Radiography of liquid metal batteries

In order to better understand the processes occurring in liquid metal batteris, such cells are imaged in operando at up to 650°C at HZDR in cooperation with partners at, e.g., Paul-Scherrer Institut. While X-rays offer a very high temporal and spatial resolution, neutron imaging makes it possible to visualize effects which X-rays cannot show.

X-ray imaging allows especially to distinguish elements according to their atomic number and density, while the image contrast for neutron imaging is totally different. Both techniques are therefore complementary.

Publications

• Nash, W.; Sarma, M.; Lappan, T.; Trtik, P.; Solem, C. K. W.; Wang, Z.; Duczek, C.; Béltran, A.; Weber, N.; Weier, T.
  Diaphragm performance of high-temperature Na–Zn cells evaluated by neutron imaging
  Journal of Energy Storage 114(2025) 115542
• Duczek, C.; Horstmann, G. M.; Ding, W.; Einarsrud, K. E.; Gelfgat, A. Y.; Godinez-Brizuela, O. E.; Kjos, O. S.; Landgraf, S.; Lappan, T.; Monrrabal, G.; Nash, W.; Personnettaz, P.; Sarma, M.; Sommerseth, C.; Trtik, P.; Weber, N.; Weier, T.
  Fluid mechanics of Na-Zn liquid metal batteries
  Applied Physics Reviews 11(2024), 041326
• Sarma, M.; Lee, J.; Nash, W.; Lappan, T.; Shevchenko, N.; Landgraf, S.; Monrrabal, G.; Trtik, P.; Weber, N.; Weier, T.
  Reusable cell design for high-temperature (600°C) liquid metal battery cycling
  Journal of the Electrochemical Society 171(2024) 040531