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The CALCE Battery Research Group features state-of-the-art shared instrumentation facilities that support high-level scientific research and student training. Each Facility offers multiple research instruments and high-end tools, needed to support the diverse research activities within the Department. These facilities welcome users from the many universities, companies and federal laboratories, providing hubs for collaboration and innovation.
Electrical Characterization
Cadex C8000 Battery Test System
3 channel, 1.2V - 36V, 10A charge and discharge per channel,100W per channel on charge; 80W on discharge
Agilent 34970A Data Acquisition
2-slot mainframe, 96 matrix crosspoints, Measures and converts 11 different input signals, 60 channels input
Princeton Applied Research's VersaSTAT 3
Potentiostat/galvanostat with frequency response analyzer (FRA) 1 µHz to 1 MHz, Max Current: ±2A.
Arbin LBT21084
16-channel battery tester, 1mA-10A, 0-5V per channel
Arbin BT-I
15-channel battery tester, 1mA-10A, 10-20V per channel, 0.02 to 0.1% FSR control
Arbin LBT
5-channel high-power battery tester, 0-50 A, 20 V for each of the 4 channels, 50 A, 60 V for the last channel. Up to 200 A, 20 V if channels are parallel connected. 32 auxiliary voltage measurement channels.
Olympus EPOCH XT Ultrasonic Pulser and Receiver
Pulse repetition frequency (PRF): 9 Hz to 1 kHz 5 megahertz, ¼” diameter ultrasonic transducer
Environmental Chambers
MBRAUN Glove Box Workstation
A Stainless steel design with Inert gas purification system having Large antechamber with sliding tray and PLC-M
Yamato DVS 402
Laboratory Constant Temperature Ovens with temperature ranging from Room temp +4°C to 260°C with accuracy of ∓1.0°C
Thermo Temperature Humidity Chamber
Incubator- Temperature range: Ambient +4° to 75°C. 120V/300W, True laminar airflow for tight temperature uniformity
Mechanical Testing
A range of equipment is available to measure electrical, thermal, mechanical, and material properties critical to the performance and reliability of systems. Specific equipment includes:
TA Instruments Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer 850
The DMA850 measures mechanical/rheological properties of a material as a function of time, frequency, temperature, stress, and strain. Such rheologic properties includes modulus, viscosity, creep, stress relaxation, and stress/strain behavior, over a range of temperatures.
The DMA 850 is capable of force measurement to 18 N. It has a furnace capability of operating up to 600℃. The linear optical encoder allows deformation amplitudes from 0.005 to 10000 μm with 0.1 nm resolution. Our current specimen grips are for tension, compression, and 3-point bend testing.
Data Physics 1D Electrodynamic Shaker
Max Sinusoidal Force- :468Kgf, Max Random Force:261Kgf, Max Shock Force:994Kgf, Frequency Range: 5- 3000Hz
TA Instruments - Thermal Analysis – DSC 250 Differential Scanning Calorimeter
The DSC is used for investigation, selection, comparison, and end-use performance evaluation of materials in research, quality control and production applications. DSC can be applied to techniques such as glass transitions, “cold” crystallization, phase changes, melting, crystallization, product stability, cure / cure kinetics, and oxidative stability. DSC performs calorimetric measurements as a function of temperature.
The TA Instruments DSC 250 is equipped with a cooling system providing operation from -90℃ (183 °K). The instrument is typically operated to 400℃. Sample capsules include hermetically-sealed and non-sealed pans. Typical sample sizes are less than 25 mg.
Vibrotron 6D-Electrodynamic Shaker
Peak force of 4200N for sinusoidal vibrations, 3400N RMS force for random vibrations and 7100N force for classic shock, Frequency range:5- 4500Hz
DAC Torsion Tester
ElectroMechanical Test Machine with Torque range of 1Nm to 5.5kNm with frequency range of 2Hz- 30Hz capable of performing static, dynamic and fatigue testing applications
Mechanical Test System
Axial and torsional actuators; Temperature Range: -129° to 540°C, Digital controllers with high channel density, high capacity and superior configurability
Failure Analysis
Extensive experience and state-of-the-art equipment are used for failure analysis of batteries, electronic components, printed circuit boards, connectors, products and systems.
Zeiss AxioCam MRc5 Optical Microscopy
4 Megapixel (2584 x1936) resolution, 12 bit / 12 Mhz pixel clock, 36-bit color depth, Dynamic range of 1:1300 for optimal
Agilent Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Multi-range FT-IR spectrometer capable of both rapid scan and step scan operation. Spectral range 10,000-400/cm.
Nikon Atomic Force Microscopy
2D topography measurement, vertical resolution typically 50 pm, characterization of the topography and electrical, chemical, magnetic and mechanical properties
BOWMAN B Series XRF Spectrometer
Capable of performing compositional analysis and conducting thickness measurements. A movable X-Y stage and variable Z-axis source allows great flexibility with sample size: from a single surface mount chip to a hand-held portable electronic device.
Material analysis mode of the XRF provides analytical range from Aluminum (Z=13) to Uranium (Z=92) where detection from 0.1% to 100% is achieved accurately. The system offers four collimators with programmable, motorized controls. The minimum collimator size of 100µm allows XRF analysis of small regions of interest.
Scanning Electron Microscopy/ Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
2 modes: High vacuum, Low vacuum and ESEM, Resolution range: 0.8nm- 3nm, Accelerating voltage: 200V – 30kV, Digital video recording, Vacuum: 6e- 4000Pa
OKOS NDT CF-300 Scanning Acoustic Microscope
Digital Pulse Receiver, Optional second channel, Max velocity: 1499mm/s, Accuracy and repeatability: ∓0.5 micron
Thermo-mechanical Analyzer
Temperature Range: -151 to 1,000 °C, Precision: ∓1°C, Maximum Sample Size: 26mm x 1.0mm x 4.7mm, Measurement Precision: ∓0.1%
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