CompreCell DP 3e

Test cell for studying solid-state batteries in 3-electrode configuration

Benefit from this highly reliable test cell for studying solid-state-batteries in three-electrode mode, compatible with CompreDrive, CompreFrame, and ComPrep:

Designed for pressures of up to 955 MPa (10 mm piston) or 663 MPa (12 mm piston)

Ideal for three-electrode solid-state-battery measurements

Several reference electrode geometries available

Compatible with a range of reference electrode chemistries

Airtight concept for testing moisture- and air-sensitive samples

Introducing solid-state reference electrodes

Among the various challanges of solid-state battery research, reference-electrodes belong to the most demanding. The reward, however, includes resolving the impedances of individual electrodes or tracing the potentials of working and counter electrode simultaneously. This three-electrode version of the CompreCell offers a solution for the cell-building part. The design retains all features of the standard CompreCell DP and introduces an additional reference electrode, which is either cold-pressed into the electrolyte volume during cell assembly, or pressed onto a pre-fabricated pellet. The reference electrode can be lithiated in-situ, achieving high stability and reliable interphase formation.

Reference electrode designs

The CompreCell DP 3e supports different wire-, ring- and mesh-based reference electrodes. Ideally, the reference electrode is embedded into the electrolyte, exactly in the middle between the anode and cathode, thereby minimizing impedance spectrum artefacts. This is possible by cold-pressing the electrolyte onto the reference electrode, which can be precisely positioned within the CompreCell DP 3e sleeve. Different types of sleeves can be employed depending on the exact reference electrode geometry: wire, foil ring, mesh, or mesh ring. All geometries are compatible with the same cell housing – only the sleeve changes.

For pre-fabricated electrolyte pellets that cannot be cold-sintered (such as oxides), the wire ring configuration allows for pressing a ring onto the perimeter of the pellet to act as the reference electrode.

Wire

Wire ring

Foil ring

Mesh

Mesh ring

Reference electrode materials

Wire and wire ring

Since there is a huge variety of solid-state electrolytes and specific use cases for reference electrodes, the CompreCell DP 3e is designed to work with a range of reference electrode materials and dimensions. In other words, you are free to choose your own wire, which can easily be used as the basis for the reference electrode using the included tools.

rhd instruments offers a thin gold-plated tungsten wire (25 µm diameter) for this purpose, which is a proven choice for the basis of the reference electrode. The tungsten core provides mechanical stability, enabling the use of very thin wires, minimizing the obstruction of ionic pathways. The gold layer can be lithiated in situ to enable a stable potential.

Metal wires (e.g. nickel or platinum) can be used as is (as pseudo-reference electrodes), or as true reference electrodes. The latter can be accomplised either by in situ lithium plating, or by coating with a mixed valence compound, creating a stable reference potential. See our publication for an example of using an LTO coated nickel wire reference electrode.

Also see our application notes for more examples of using the wire or wire ring reference electrodes.

Foil ring

rhd instruments offers nickel foil ring reference electrodes (either 20 or 100 µm thickness). They can either be used as is (as pseudo-reference electrodes), or as true reference electrodes. The latter can be accomplised either by in situ lithium plating, or by coating with a mixed valence compound such as LTO, creating a stable reference potential.

For other materials or thicknesses, feel free to reach out to rhd instruments for custom reference electrodes in the required shape for the “CompreCell DP 3e foil & mesh sleeve”.

Mesh and mesh ring

Please reach out with your request for custom-made mesh and mesh ring reference electrodes for the “CompreCell DP 3e foil & mesh sleeve”.

Selected views and impressions

Detailed Description

Enable advanced three-electrode characterization of solid-state battery cells with the CompreCell DP 3e, a measuring cell designed for use with the CompreDrive, CompreFrame, or ComPrep. It is airtight and can therefore be used to handle sensitive samples by assembling the cell in a glovebox under inert gas atmosphere and then measuring it outside. The H Add-on or HC Add-on can be used for temperature control.

The CompreCell DP 3e is a measurement cell suitable for measuring multilayer stacks of solid samples, like all-solid-state batteries, under active pressure and temperature control. It is also suitable for powdered samples and allows e.g. pelletizing in-situ.

An intuitive design facilitates the layer-by-layer assembly of an all-solid-state battery starting from the separate component materials: Both hard metal plungers in the cell can move independently and therefore apply pressure to a stack at a fixed position in the inner sleeve. This allows for measuring sample stacks that are sensitive to vertical movement and minimizes the risk of cracking and short-circuits through the layers.

The fixed location of the sample facilitates the use of a solid-state reference electrode for 3-electrode measurements. We provide a version for 10 mm diameter samples (CompreCell 10-DP 3e) as well as for 12 mm diameter samples (CompreCell 12-DP 3e). Different PEEK sleeves enable different reference electrode geometries: wire, wire ring, foil ring, mesh, and mesh ring. The sleeves are all compatible with the same cell housing to easily switch between configurations. The “foil & mesh sleeve” is used for the foil ring, mesh, and mesh ring configurations.

rhd instruments supplies different options for reference electrode materials. Additionally, for the wire and wire ring configurations, you can simply choose whatever wire fits your particular electrolyte and use case best.

Technical Details

Temperature range during operation:

T_operation = -40 °C to +150 °C

Max. sample thickness:

5 mm

Piston diameter:

10 mm or 12 mm

Piston material:

hard metal (90% tungsten carbide, 10% cobalt)

Temperature range during long-term storage:

T_storage = +10 °C to +40 °C

Temperature range during storage for drying and pre-conditioning:

T_{max, drying} = +100 °C

Max. applicable force:

F_max = 75 kN

Max. applied voltage:

U_max = 40 V (ac/dc)

Relative humidity for working and storage area:

(non-condensing) 0 to 80% RH

Atmosphere during storage:

non-corrosive

Rated dimensions:

6 cm x 6 cm x 13.4 cm (L x W x H)

Total weight:

approx. 1.3 kg

O-ring material:

FFKM

Sleeve material:

PEEK

Min. reference electrode thickness:

0.5 mm (wire ring)

Max. reference electrode thickness:

0.2 mm (foil ring, mesh, mesh ring)

Key Data

Art. No.:

840344 (CompreCell 12DP 3e, 12 mm)

840350 (CompreCell 10DP 3e, 10 mm)

84034026 (Au/W wires 25 µm)

840344010 (PEEK Sleeve Foil & Mesh)

840344025 (Ni foil ring 20 µm)

840344026 (Ni foil ring 100 µm)

Essential features at a glance:

High quality setup for solid-state battery research
Compatibility with CompreDrive, CompreFrame, and ComPrep
Airtight measuring cells allowing for the handling of sensitive samples outside of a glovebox
Large range of applicable force up to 75 kN
Large range of sample temperature from -40 °C up to 150 °C
Universal compatibility with all potentiostats/galvanostats.
3-electrode setup with embedded reference electrode