EL-CELL ECD-4-nano User manual

© 2023 EL-Cell GmbH
User Manual
Release 1.34
ECD-4-nano
Electrochemical test cell

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Disclaimer
EL-Cell GmbH makes no assurances or warranties with respect to this manual and, to the
extent permitted by law, limits its liability for violation of any implied warranty to the
substitution of this manual for another. In addition, EL -Cell GmbH reserves the right to revise
this publication at any time without notic e to anyone.
The information provided in this documentation includes general descriptions and/or
technical characteristics regarding the performance of the equipment described herein. This
documentation cannot serve as a proper evaluation of the suitabilit y or r eliability of the
equipment for any specific application by any user and should not be relied upon as a
substitute for such evaluation. It is the responsibility of each such user or installer to conduct
an appropriate and complete risk assessment, ev aluation and testing of the equipment with
respect to their s pecific application. EL -Cell GmbH cannot be held responsible or liable for any
misuse of the information contained herein.
All relevant state, regional and local safety regulations must always be complied with when
installing and using this device. For safety reasons and to ens ure compliance with the
documented system data, only the manufacturer is authorized to per form repairs on
components.
Disregarding this information may result in injury or d amage to the equipment.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, pr ocessed, or transmitted
in any form, including photocopying, recording, or any other electronic or mechanical process,
without the written permission of the publisher. Requests for permission must be made in
writing to the publisher at the address written below.

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Manufacturer and customer service
EL-Cell GmbH
Tempowerkring 8
21079 Hambur g –Germany
Telephone: [phone]
Telefax: [phone]
Email: in fo @el-ce ll.co m
Website: el-ce ll.co m
Technical support
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: el-cell.com/support/technical-support/
Please always quote the serial number on the nameplate when making customer service
inquiries.
Shipping address for repairs
EL-Cell GmbH
Tempowerkring 8
21079 Hamburg - Germany
Please be s ur e to contact our customer service depar tment before making a return. We will
not open or process shipments without a completed decontamination report or RMA.

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Content
1Preamble ....................................................................................................6
1.1 Purpose and target audience ....................................................................................... 6
1.2 Usage instructions........................................................................................................ 6
1.3 Obtaining documents and information........................................................................ 7
2Product Description ......................................................................................8
3Work principle .............................................................................................9
3.1 Half cell mode .............................................................................................................. 9
3.2 Full cell mode............................................................................................................. 10
4Technical data .......................................................................................... 11
4.1 Dilation sensor s ystem ............................................................................................... 12
5Safety Precautions ...................................................................................... 12
6Assembly .................................................................................................. 13
6.1 Removing the transport lock...................................................................................... 13
6.2 Disassembly steps before insertion into the glovebox............................................... 14
6.3 Assembling the cell inside the glovebox (half -cell mode) ......................................... 17
6.4 Assembling the cell inside the glovebox (full cell mode) ........................................... 23
6.5 Final assembly steps outside the glovebox ................................................................ 29
7Connecting the test cell ............................................................................... 30
7.1 Operation in a PAT-Stand-1 and connected to a PAT -Tester-x potentiostat............. 30
7.2 Direct operation in a PAT -Tester-x............................................................................. 31
7.3 Operation in a PAT-Stand-1 and connected to a third party potentiostat................. 32
7.4 Electrical connections................................................................................................. 33
8Disassembly and Cleaning ............................................................................ 34
9Unpacking................................................................................................. 35
10 Available accessories................................................................................... 36
11 Consumables ............................................................................................. 36

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12 Spare parts ECD-4-nano............................................................................... 37
12.1 Screw cap unit, ECC1-06-0025-A................................................................................ 38
12.2 Frit flange unit, ECC1-06-0040-A ............................................................................... 39
13 Warranty .................................................................................................. 40

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1Preamble
1.1 Purpose and target audience
This manual covers the structure, function, operation and maintenance of the device
described. It is intended for end users. An end user can be described as any person who
interacts directly with the device. The term "end user" usually includes laboratory personnel
who have been specifically trained to operate this instrument and are familiar with all the
precautions required to work in the laboratory.
Only an authorized and properly qualified and experienced person 18 years of age or older
may use the device, who:
has read and understood these installation and operating ins tructions
is familiar with the installation and operation of this or a similar device
is aware of all possible dangers and acts accordingly
1.2 Usage instructions
Make sure you have read and understood the complete instructions and all safety information
befor e using this product. Failure to follow these instructions may result in minor or serious
injury.
Follow all instructions. This will prevent accidents that could result in property damage or
injury. Keep all safety information and instructions for future reference and pass the m on to
subsequent users of the product.
The manufacturer is not liable for property damage or injuries resulting from incorrect
handling or failure to comply with the safety instructions. In such cases, the warranty becomes
void.

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1.3 Obtaining documents and information
A current version of the documentation is available on the following website :
https://el-cell.com/support/manuals/
Alternatively, you can scan this QR code,
to access the website:

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2Product Description
The ECD-4-nano is an electrochemical battery tes t cell for detecting thickness changes of the
individual electrode or the entire cell stack during the electrochemical cycle.
The connection to the required battery tester is established cablelessly via the PAT-Socket.
This allows the ECD-4-nano to be operated directly in a battery tester such as the
PAT-Tester-x-8 or by means of a PAT docking station connected to a third-party battery
tester.
The ECD-4-nano features several built-in sensors that can measure thickness change, gas
pressure and temperature in addition to the electrical parameters .

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3Work principle
3.1 Half cell mode
The working electrode (WE) and the counter electrode (CE) are separated by a stiff glass frit
soaked with electrolyte. The upper WE is sealed by means of a flexible metal membrane,
through which any charge-induced thickness change is transmitted towards th e sensor/load
unit attached on top. The fixation of the glass frit ensures that only the thickness change of
the working electr ode is being detected without interference from the CE.
Se n sor tip
Cu r rent collector
Se p arator (G lass frit )
Cu r rent collector
Me mb rane
W o rking el ectrode
R ef erence electrode
Co unter electrode

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3.2 Full cell mode
Both electrodes are separated by a thin (a few 10 microns) separator. The cell stack is sealed
at the top by a flexible metal membrane through which any charge -induced change in
thickness is transmitted towards the sensor/load unit mounted above. The lower electrode
rests on a stainless steel current collector. In this setup, the thickness change of the entire cell
stack is recorded.
NOTICE
To use the full cell mode, the ECD-4 full cell kit is required. See “Chapter 10: Available
accessories” for more information.
Se n sor tip
U p per
electrode
Cu r rent collector
Me mb rane
Lo w er e lectrode
Se p arator
Cu r rent collector

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4Technical data
Specifications
Length
67 mm
Width
67 mm
Height
129 mm
Sample diameter
10 mm
Glass T-frit(separator)
12.5/10 x 3.5 mm
Separator diameter (full
cell mode)
max. 10 mm
Working (upper) electrode
diameter
max. 10 mm
Counter (lower) electrode
diameter
max. 10 mm
Gas pressure sensor
0 to 3 bar abs.
Chemical compatibility
Aprotic organic
electrolytes
Cell electrolyte volume
Half cell mode:
approx. 0.2 ml
Full cell mode:
approx. 0.05 ml
Operational temperature
range (cell and sensor)
-20 to 80 °C
Operational temperature
range (conditioning
electronics and data
logger)
0 to 40 °C
Load on testspecimen
Approx. 1 Newton
Displacement sensortype
Capacitive
Displacement range
250 μm
Displacement resolution
≤ 5 nm

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4.1 Dilation sensor system
The dilation sensor system comprises of:
ECD-4-nano sensor unit
ECD-4-nano sensor box
Cable, sensor to ECD-4-nano sensor box
These components have been calibrated at the factory and are therefore matched to each
other. If you have more than one ECD-4-nano device, you should make sure that thes e
components are not inter changed.
5Safety Precautions
Use proper safety precautions when using hazardous electrode materials and electrolytes.
Wear protective glasses and gloves to protect you against electrolytes that may accidentally
spill out during filling and disassembly. Upon cell disassembly, dispose of all materials
properly. Metallic lithium and some insertion compounds may decompose heavily in contact
with water and other solvents and cause a fire.

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6Assembly
6.1 Removing the transport lock
These steps are only necessary after unpacking and before the very first use of the instrument.
1. Remove the two red
transportation locks from the
sensor unit by releasing the
screws with the providing allen
keys.
2. Now the ECD-4-nano is ready
for the first use. Proceed with
the next steps.

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6.2 Disassembly steps before insertion into the glovebox
The following steps describe the disassembly of the cell base unit before inserting the parts
into the glove box.
1. Loosen the thrust screw by using
the provided tool.
2. Remove the screw cap.
3. Dispose the PE sealing ring.

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4. Release the clamping screw
that holds the firt flange unit
in place by using the provided
torque screw driver. Do not
completely remove the screw.
5. Remove the frit flange unit.
6. Scr ew off the frit flange and
remove the attached reference
ring.
When disassembling the
ECD-4-nano for the first time,
please note that itis delivered
with an uncoated reference
ring.

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All components of the cell base unit must now be dried in a vacuum oven at 80°C for at least
12 hour s. The following parts must be dried at 120°C:
-Frit flange
-Thrust screw
-Frit sleeve
-Glass fr it
Please note: We r ecommend leaving the sens or unit outside the glove box.
7. Remove the frit and the frit
sleeve from the assembly.
8. Remove the springloaded
plunger.
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4

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6.3 Assembling the cell inside the glovebox (half-cell mode)
NOTICE
All following assembly steps will be carried out in an inert glove box atmosphere.
1. Insert the new r eference ring into the
frit flange.
2. Insert the plunger assembly into the
thrust screw.

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3. Press the plunger assembly
down using the pr ovided
tweezers tool.
4. Insert the fr it sleeve.
5. Put the lithium metal counter
electrode, 10 mm x 0.3 mm (or
thinner), on top of the plunger.
Then put a glass fiber
separator, 10 mm x 0.26 mm,
on top of the lithium metal
counter electrode.

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6. Add the glass frit with the
narrow end facing upwards.
7. Scr ew in the frit flange.
8. Attach the as sembled frit
flange unit to the cell base.
9. Add 180 to 200 μl of
electrolyte using a pipette.

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10. Put the working electrode with
a maximum diameter of 10 mm
on top of the glass frit. The
active layer must point
downwar ds.
11. Insert the spacer disc.
12. Fold the lever down to the
stop and hold it in this
position.
13. Continue to hold the lever in
this position while tightening
the clamping screw to fix the
frit flange unit. Use the torque
wrench until it releases to
achieve the required torque.