A parallel-plate RF probe and battery cartridge for Li ion battery studies.

A new parallel-plate resonator for Li ion cell studies is introduced along with a removable cartridge-like electrochemical cell for lithium ion battery studies. This geometry separates the RF probe from the electrochemical cell permitting charge/discharge of the cell outside the magnet and introduces the possibility of multiplexing samples under test. The new cell has a geometry that is similar to that of a real battery, unlike the majority of cells employed for MR/MRI studies to this point. The cell, with electrodes parallel to the B magnetic field of the probe, avoids RF attenuation during excitation/reception. The cell and RF probe dramatically increase the sample volume compared to traditional MR compatible battery designs. Ex situ and in situ 1D Li profiles of Li ions in the electrolyte solution of a cartridge-like cell were acquired, with a nominal resolution of 35 µm at 38 MHz. The cell and RF probe may be employed for spectroscopy, imaging and relaxation studies. We also report the results of a T-T relaxation correlation experiment on both a pristine and fully charged cell. This study represents the first T-T relaxation correlation experiment performed in a Li ion cell. The T-T correlation maps suggest lithium intercalated into graphite is detected by this methodology in addition to other Li species.