Cell Design for Electrochemical Characterizations of Metal -Ion Batteries in Organic and Aqueous Electrolyte

Understanding the gas evolution in batteries, caused by decomposition of the electrolyte, is of fundamental importance for improving the long-time performances and cycle life of the battery systems. In general, this phenomenon causes simultaneously an irreversible energy and charge loss, as well as an increase of the internal resistance. Here, we introduce a new cell design capable of performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy (DEMS) with high resolution. Detailed aspects of the cell fabrication and the different components of the cell are extensively explained. Impedance measurements were validated by using symmetric electrodes. The possibility of performing long-term DEMS measurements was tested on graphite electrodes in Ethylene Carbonate/Dimethyl Carbonate (1:1), 1 M LiPF6 as an electrolyte. Finally, the cell was used to detect hydrogen evolution on the zinc negative electrode of a zinc-ion battery based on copper hexacyanoferrate.