High Tech Instrumentation for Environmental and Renewable Energy Applications
THE ROLE OF STRUCTURAL DEFECTS IN COMMERCIAL LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Restriction of Hazardous Substances
How a Zero-Energy Urbanity Can Be Supported By Collecting Thermographic Data
Quantum Design UK and Ireland is part of the Quantum Design International (QDI) group QDI is a global laboratory equipment manufacturer. The company distributes scientific and industrial instrumentation through an international network, with subsidiaries in every major technological centre around the world.
WITH CONTENT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR PARTNERS:
The Role of Structural Defects in Commercial Lithiumion Batteries
ENHANCED MEASUREMENT
THROUGHPUT OF SENSITIVE EXTERNAL QUANTUM
EFFICIENCY CHARACTERISATION FOR SOLAR CELL AND PHOTODETECTOR DEVICES
Foreword
Hyperspectral Imaging in Recycling and Waste Management
Advancing Energy Research
Enhanced Measurement Throughput of Sensitive External Quantum Efficiency
Characterisation for Solar Cell and Photodetector Devices
CASE STUDY: Hyperspectral, a Tool for Future Waste Management
Drone-Based Daylight Electroluminescence Imaging of PV Modules using SWIR Cameras
Case Study: PICVISA Harnesses
Hyperspectral Imaging to Revolutionise Textile Sorting
Why X-ray Fluorescence is the Preferred Method for Non-destructively Testing Materials for RoHS compliance
Hyperspectral Imaging Shapes the Future of Sustainable Recycling
Thermal Mapping with Airborne Camera Platforms
Sorting of Black Plastic with Specim
For Safe Electromobility –Thermographic Testing of Lithium-Ion Batteries
In-situ X-ray Approaches in Battery Research
and Metal Migration
The climate challenge faces citizens, scientists, industry, and governments alike. From renewable energy, waste and environmental management, and recycling, our customers are looking at new and innovative ways to meet these challenges. Quantum Design UK and Ireland is here to offer their technological expertise to help find the right solution for your project.
Quantum Design (QD) has been a leader in high-tech instrumentation for over 40 years, with renowned systems like the MPMS and VersaLab. At Quantum Design UK and Ireland (QDUKI), we have expanded our product portfolio by distributing solutions from other market leaders such as InfraTec, Raptor Photonics, Specim Hyperspectral, IXRF Systems Inc , Lake Shore Cryotronics and Sigray Inc.. This enables us to provide our customers with the right solutions for their environmental and renewable energy applications.
Dr Luke Nicholls TECHNICAL SALES MANAGER
The Quantum Design UK and Ireland Sales Team
Dr. Alex Murphy TECHNICAL SALES ENGINEER
The efficient recycling of waste into reusable materials is one of the significant efforts we must take to save our scarce natural resources. Sorting waste manually is timeconsuming, labor-intensive, and hazardous. Hyperspectral imaging can sort materials quickly and efficiently, reducing the time and cost of sorting and increasing safety.
Hyperspectral imaging identifies and separates different materials, such as plastics, textiles, metals, glass, paper, and cardboard, based on their chemical structure
Hyperspectral imaging can identify a broader range of materials than traditional sorting methods, which rely on visual inspection or basic sensors
More accurate material separation reduces contamination and increases the purity of recycled materials and profit. Hyperspectral imaging can help increase the number of recycled materials rather than sent to landfills, reducing waste’s environmental impact
Want
Hyperspectral and waste management applications? Contact our Technical Sales Manager Dr Luke Nicholls
Telephone: (01372) 378822
Email: luke@qd-uki co uk
Hyperspectral imaging can be integrated into automated waste sorting systems, reducing the need for manual sorting and increasing the speed and efficiency of the process
Overall, hyperspectral imaging offers significant benefits for waste sorting:
Increase the safety and efficiency of recycling
Automate workflows
Increase the purity of recycled materials
Reduce cost and increase profit
Reduce the environmental impact
Discover Specim Hyperspectral Imaging Cameras
A lot of R&D today is focused on developing renewable, sustainable sources of energy. This includes the study of promising new organic and thermoelectric materials, as well as technologies that use less power. But there are hurdles to overcome. Solar cell materials, for example, often have low mobilities and to accurately characterise them, you need highly sensitive measurement instrumentation.
Lake Shore Cryotronics provides technology that enables you to accurately measure many of these materials, such as OPV, amorphous silicon, and cadmium telluride solar cell materials
Lake Shore also offers systems that allow you to:
Non-destructively measure transparent conductive oxide and dielectric material responses
Explore vibrational resonances of OTFT and OLED materials
Measure properties of novel photovoltaic materials
Characterise photoelectrochemical behaviors of crystals or metal oxides
Determine magneto-caloric properties for new refrigerator technologies
Analyse materials for potential use in highcapacity hydrogen storage
Characterise promising composites and polymers for new supercapacitor designs
A Fundamental Tool for Semiconductor
Enhanced Measurement Throughput of Sensitive External Quantum Efficiency Characterisation for Solar Cell and Photodetector Devices
The landscape of photodetector and solar cell technologies has been rapidly expanded with the emergence of numerous novel material paradigms, including organic semiconductors, perovskites, and two-dimensional materials. These technology advances directly impact a broad spectrum of applications from night vision to medical imaging and energy conversion. As materials, device architectures, and manufacturing processes evolve, external quantum efficiency (EQE) is a key metric when comparing devices and competing technologies.
The EQE of a solar cell or a photodetector describes the ratio between the number of charges that are generated and then collected at the electrodes with respect to the number of incident photons that are available for absorption The EQE is measured as a function of the wavelength of the incident light, and thus it is important to identify whether a solar cell matches the sun spectrum or a photodetector matches the spectrum of a specific light source
An EQE measurement is typically done by detecting the photocurrent with a sensitive multimeter, an SMU, or a picoammeter and requires a dark environment and a sample with a sufficiently low dark current.
Often with photosensitive materials, considerable effort is put into optimising the power efficiency for which the wavelength range with high EQE values is of particular interest. However, there is also growing interest in measuring the EQE values at the low energy flank of the EQE spectrum in order to study low energy phenomena such as charge-transfer (CT) states as well as traps and defects. These low-energy measurements are referred to as sensitive EQE (sEQE) and follow the same principles as EQE measurements, with the key difference being the concentration on measuring the lowest EQE values as precisely as possible.
a) SweepMe! GmbH, Dresden, Germany
b) Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute for Applied Physics, TU Dresden, Germany
c) Lake Shore Cryotronics, Westerville, OH, USA
Axel Fischer , Jakob Wolansky , Johannes Benduhn , and David R. Daughton a b b c
This application note discusses the role of sEQE measurements in characterising and understanding performance issues in organic solar cells (OSCs). OSCs often suffer from potential losses due to the recombination of generated charges; these recombination mechanisms can be better understood by studying a wide energy landscape. OSCs blend donor and acceptor materials, both of which can absorb light and lead to the creation of strongly bound electron-hole pairs (Frenkel excitons).
Due to the high exciton binding energy in the constituent materials, the excitons diffuse through the material When an exciton reaches an interface between the donor and the acceptor material, it can dissociate with one constituent charge transitioning to the neighboring molecule while the remaining constituent stays on the original molecules Charges that are separated at the donor-acceptor interface are not immediately free but are rather bound at the interface in so-called CT states
In high-efficiency OSCs, these bound charges are selectively transported to their corresponding collection electrode; however, in many lowerefficiency OSCs, the charges are stuck at the interface until they recombine often through a nonradiative channel
These recombination processes must be prevented in order to achieve optimal efficiencies in OSCs Therefore, it is important to investigate those CT states Sensitive EQE spectroscopy helps unveil the energy and distribution of CT states and leads to material and processing improvements that diminish internal voltage losses in these devices
An sEQE measurement is carried out using a current-to-voltage preamplifier in combination with a lock-in amplifier to increase the sensitivity of the setup The lock-in measurement achieves a better signal-to-noise ratio but requires an alternating signal often achieved by optically chopping the light source The following section will outline the sEQE characterisation setup and discuss novel instrumentation for improving the measurement throughput and accuracy of the system
Figure 1 illustrates a typical sEQE measurement platform used in OSC characterisation sEQE setups are equipped with a broad-spectrum light source covering the wavelength range of interest for a given device under test (DUT) Halogen lamps are the standard for measurement in the NIR/VIS range
Fig 1. Conventional instrumentation for a sEQE measurement.
Fig 2. Instrumentation of a sEQE measurement using an M81-SSM with CM-10 module. Here, the M81 can be configured to carry out both DC I-V sweeps as well as lock-in detection of the induced AC photocurrent in the device.
Here the lamp element acts as a thermal radiator providing a spectrum close to the blackbody spectrum through the visible wavelength. Halogen lamps lack sufficient intensity at shorter wavelengths in the blue-VIS range Typically, xenon lamps are added to the setup to cover the blueVIS range, but their intensity is quite inhomogeneous Results in this work were generated using only the halogen lamp. Emerging light source alternatives include white light sources shaped from multiple LEDs and laser-based continuum light sources These light sources offer more consistent spectral content and more control over the light beam; however, the higher intensity illumination provided by these sources could induce additional effects like saturation or self-heating in the DUT.
To discuss your application or area of research, please get in touch with our Technical Sales Engineer, Dr. Alex Murphy.
For this work, the two lock-in amplifiers, current preamplifier, and SMU for DC characterisation found in the conventional sEQE setup were substituted with a single M81-SSM synchronous source measure system outfitted with two CM-10 current measure modules (Figure 2). The CM-10 module contains both transimpedance amplification as well as analog filtering for sensitive measurements in a noisy environment
Read the full white paper
More and more waste is being produced globally, and it ends up in waste management facilities Waste Robotics is on a mission to develop cutting-edge waste management solutions that will dramatically increase the number of waste types that can be identified, recycled, and reused. With SpecimONE hyperspectral imaging platform, Waste Robotics can now gain groundbreaking insights into the chaotic world of material recovery and take sorting accuracy to the next level.
“We are a growing team of passionate engineers and operations professionals designing and deploying an AIdriven robotic solution for material recovery”
ZIAD AKL-CHEDID VP OF PRODUCTS WASTE ROBOTICS
Waste Robotics aims to enable more precise, safer, and more profitable waste recycling on a global scale They combine advanced waste-handling processes, computer vision, deep learning algorithms, hyperspectral imaging, and state-of-the-art robotic technologies
The company is based in Canada, but its products waste waste-sorting solutions are used worldwide As waste management is a very complex field, Waste Robotics is constantly looking for ways to improve waste management processes so that even more waste types can be separated
Even though Waste Robotics’s overall sorting accuracy was on a good level, they saw that there was still room for improvement The company started to look for a solution and decided to test whether Specim’s hyperspectral imaging cameras could help them take the sorting accuracy to the next level
“The hyperspectral information we get from Specim’s cameras is used alongside other cameras and profilers to feed our Sensor Fusion algorithm for better object detection and classification,” Akl-Chedid explains.
Spectralbased material identification ... in real-time
After implementing Specim’s hyperspectral cameras, Waste Robotics can now see more than just the 2D or 3D image They can see the hyperspectral signature of those images, which, in some cases, is the only way to detect the material of an object even after it would visually be beyond identification
“Using the SpecimONE hyperspectral imaging platform for data processing and training allows us to have a realtime spectral-based material identification to augment our understanding of what is being presented to our robot for sorting,” AklChedid says
In addition, using SpecimONE and interpreting the hyperspectral data it produces is more straightforward than one might think.
“Another great thing about the hyperspectral imaging is that it is very visual. We can see the different colours on the image that represent different materials,” Akl-Chedid clarifies
A partnership built to innovate
Akl-Chedid has been pleased with the quality of Specim’s hyperspectral solutions and working with the company. He praises the reliability and responsiveness of Specim and their local representative
As well as providing training information, offering general support, and delivering equipment on the agreed schedule, AklChedid values Specim’s understanding of their business area
“Our systems operate in extremely harsh conditions. The Specim team is aware of this and works with us to ensure our solution continues to perform optimally,” Akl-Chedid says
The camera-based SLR resulted in an R2 of The two companies also share the same passion for innovation and pushing the limits of technology
“At Waste Robotics, innovation is at the core of our day-to-day. We share this passion with our partners at Specim,” he continues
Akl-Chedid believes hyperspectral imaging will become increasingly widely used in the future thanks to its added accuracy.
“We see the need for hyperspectral imaging increasing as more material recovery facility operators discover the success stories we create together with Specim” ZIAD AKL-CHEDID SpecimONErevolutionises hyperspectraltechnology adaptationtoindustrial sortingapplications
Discover the Specim One
With SpecimONE, machine builders, vision systems integrators,andotherOEM’swillimprovetheirtime-tomarket by taking advantage of SpecimONE’s agile development practices and creating new sorting applicationswithoutcodingorin-depthknowledgeof hyperspectralimaging
Electroluminescence (EL) imaging of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels provides high accuracy in detecting defects and faults, such as cracks, broken cells, interconnections, shunts, among many others; furthermore, the EL technique is used extensively due to a high level of detail and direct relationship to injected carrier density.
This technique is commonly practiced only indoors - or outdoors from dusk to dawnbecause the crystalline silicon luminescence signal is several orders of magnitude lower than sunlight. This limits the potential of such a powerful technique to be used in utility scale inspections, and therefore, the interest in the development of electrical biasing tools to make outdoor EL imaging truly fast and efficient.
A team at Technical University of Denmark (DTU) lead by Gisele Alves dos Reis Benatto and Peter Behrensdorff Poulsen have used a drone-based system capable of acquiring EL images using an Owl 640 SWIR camera, running at a frame rate of 120 frames per second and imaging in the 1125-1175nm range In a single second during high irradiance conditions, this system
can capture enough EL and background image pairs to create an EL PV module image that has sufficient diagnostic information to identify faults associated with power loss. See Figure 1. Figure 2 highlights the Signal and sensor involved in daylight EL imaging.
Fig 1: Drone with Raptor 640 SWIR camera
Fig 2: Signal and sensor involved in daylight EL imaging.
Figure 3i highlights drone based EL images, acquired with global horizontal solar irradiance close to one sun in the plane of the array, where one sun equals 1000W m2.
When the drone starts to fly overhead, you can see further EL images shown in figure 3ii It shows images with DC modulation (c) and AC & DC modulation (d). It presents lower quality compared to those obtained indoors and stationary in daylight in figure 3i, but still having sufficient quality to identify the main features related to the module power loss.
With further work on the algorithms, this technique shows much promise. It is an obvious advantage to use a drone to inspect PV modules on a solar farm during daylight hours.
find out about the Raptor OWL 640 T
VIS-SWIR technology Enables high
sensitivity imaging from 0 9μm to 1 7μm
High quality sensors 99.5% operability, 640x512, 15μm pixel pitch
15μm x 15μm pixel pitch Enables highest resolution VIS-SWIR image
Ultra high intrascene dynamic range
Enables simultaneous capture of bright & dark portions of a scene
On-board Automated Gain Control (AGC)
Enables clear video in all light conditions
Ultra compact, Low power Ideal for handheld, mobile or airborne systems
Figure 3ii: Mechanically stressed PV panel EL images in motion
Fig 3i: Mechanically stressed PV panel EL images stationary
PICVISA Harnesses
Hyperspectral Imaging to Revolutionise Textile Sorting
Textile waste is a growing global concern with far-reaching environmental, social, and economic implications. The global textile industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries, producing an enormous quantity of textile products each year.
Estimates suggest that less than 1% of textiles are currently recycled. A significant portion of textile waste ends up in landfills where natural fibers, such as cotton, take years to decompose, while synthetic fibres, like polyester, persist for much longer, polluting the environment
To boost textile recycling, the EU requires all its member countries to implement systems to manage 100 percent of their textile waste, more than 16 million tons per year, by January 1st, 2025. Despite efforts to regulate and promote recycling, textile recycling faces challenges due to the complexity of sorting textile materials, including blends of different fibers, presenting a pressing need for efficient textile sorting technologies.
“
We chose Specim for their exceptional product and service. It’s a safe bet, as they offer an industrial-grade solution with fantastic capabilities”
Daniel Carrero, Technical Director, PICVISA
PICVISA, a Spanish company specialising in optical sorting, robotics, AI, and deep learning solutions, had a growing number of clients with a significant interest in advanced textile separation solutions, which led to their decision to invest in textile sorting.
In pursuit of innovative textile sorting technology, PICVISA successfully developed a fully automated machine that can classify and automatically separate several types of textile waste by composition (cotton, polyester, viscose, and other fibres), colour, and shape Thanks to the technological solution implemented by PICVISA, Coleo Recycling in A Coruña, Galicia, classifies and traces some 5,000 tons of textile waste annually
HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING ENABLES ACCURATE TEXTILE IDENTIFICATION AND SORTING
The key component of PICVISA’s fully automated textile sorting machine is the Specim FX17 hyperspectral camera. The Specim FX17 operates in a line-scan mode, collecting hyperspectral data in the near-infrared (NIR) region spanning from 900 to 1700 nm. NIR hyperspectral imaging allows the identification of the composition of textile products since different textile fibres (natural, artificial, and synthetic) have unique spectral characteristics that can be used for classification.
Using the Specim FX17 hyperspectral camera, PICVISA can capture images and analyse the spectral responses of different materials with exceptional precision.
Daniel Carrero, Technical Director of PICVISA, explains the impact of the Specim FX17 camera:
“This technology is a game-changer. It enables us to identify materials and compositions of garments for preselection before recycling, providing a complete analysis with excellent spectral resolution.”
SENSOR-FUSION FOR ENHANCED SORTING ACCURACY
In addition to the Specim FX17 camera, PICVISA integrates various complementary technologies into their textile sorting machine to ensure unparalleled accuracy. These technologies encompass colour separation, defect identification, and contaminant extraction. RGB systems are employed for colour classification, while inductive sensors are used to identify metals in garments.
Artificial intelligence (AI) also plays a critical role in PICVISA’s sorting process. By utilising AI algorithms, the company achieves the classification of materials that may be identical in colour and composition but differ in appearance or shape, guaranteeing precise sorting outcomes.
RESPONDING TO CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS IS THE PATH TO SUCCESS
PICVISA’s diligent efforts have resulted in an extensive classification library comprising over 20 compositions. However, customer demand for an even wider range of classifications remains steadfastly increasing. Notably, tackling the identification of elastane has proven challenging for PICVISA, as its
its recognition is contingent upon particular compositions and proportions. To overcome the obstacle and further develop their solution, PICVISA is actively exploring regression-based classification besides class-based as a potential solution.
REGULATIONS DRIVE INNOVATION AND GROWTH OF TEXTILE RECYCLING
Lluís Seguí, Managing Director of PICVISA, states:
“
For PICVISA, the textile sorting market represents one of the fastest-growing sectors of the future. The development of chemical recycling for mixedfibre garments and finding a solution for already-sorted pure garments will be crucial.”
find out more
PICVISA already had experience working with Specim, as the company has previously implemented Specim’s hyperspectral cameras in their automated sorting machines for other segments, such as plastic recycling.
PICVISA’s collaboration with Specim has been highly satisfactory, setting the benchmark for successful partnerships. Regarding their decision to work with Specim, Daniel Carrero emphasises, “We chose Specim for their exceptional product and service. It’s a safe bet, as they offer an industrial-grade solution with fantastic capabilities.”
( ) p holdscompaniesdirectlyresponsiblefor ensuring their electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) conforms to strict standards This directive requires that products cannot contain lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and four different phthalates above specifically set amounts These restricted materials are hazardous to the environment, pollute landfills, and
p , , , , Turkey, Taiwan, and India, have joined the push for compliance and responsibility by creating similar requirements RoHS has quickly become imperative for companies participating intheglobalmarket.
X-ray Fluorescence is the preferred method for non-destructively testing materials for RoHS compliance. Micro Xray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) analysis is an accurate, rapid test method for elemental analysis The IXRF Systems ATLAS μXRF unit has micron-level spatial resolution capability for spot analysis andelementalmapping.
RoHS specifies maximum levels for the followingsixrestrictedmaterials:
Lead(Pb):<1000ppm
Mercury(Hg):<100ppm
Cadmium(Cd):<100ppm
HexavalentChromium(CrVI):<1000ppm
PolybrominatedBiphenyls(PBB):<1000ppm
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): <1000ppm
ATLAS M microEDXRF System
TheRestrictionofHazardousSubstances (RoHS) is a compliance directive that hold
ATLAS can easily detect restricted materials well below the required maximum levels, providing added assuranceof compliance
With ATLAS Stage Mapping, large samples can be quickly mapped for the identification of problem materials It is not necessary
to know what elements are present before collecting a map Elements can be added as the spectrum grows and peaksbecomeevident
Included below the elemental maps is the sum spectrum, allowing for quick identification of any problem material’s presence
ATLAS features a “go to” function that allows a small area of interest to be selected and automatically moves the stage back to that area for further investigation
In ATLAS Stage Maps, a true spectrum is collected at every pixel, allowing for true data processing and understanding of any area with in a large map Even after the sample is gone from the lab, the data remains, allowing for further investigation
Materials tested include a wide range of components: circuit boards, polymers, medical devices, coated surfaces, and many more The ATLAS has the ability to rapidly map the sample surface for elemental distribution. Micro XRF is designed to meet regulatory testing requirements for RoHS II and other programs
Discover the IXRF Atlas M
H Y P E R S P E C T R A L
I M A G I N G S H A P E S
T H E F U T U R E O F
S U S T A I N A B L E R E C Y C L I N G
Efficient recycling of waste into reusable raw materials is one of the significant efforts we must take to stop global warming and the overexploitation of natural resources.
The environmental benefits of recycling are clear. Recycling conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gases and pollution, and the use of fossil fuels in energy production. It reduces energy consumption by about 70% for plastics, 60% for steel, 40% for paper, and 30% for glass.
A significant value lies in reusable material. However, we are still far away from our recycling targets. Most of the collected waste is still used for energy production and burnt in power plants – not reused. Price is often a factor in low recycling rates, as it is often cheaper to produce new products from raw materials than recycled materials.
To make recycling not only ecologically but also economically viable, reusing materials needs to be cheaper and easier than using virgin materials.
With proper material handling methods, different materials can be efficiently recycled and turned into profit
This is where hyperspectral imaging can make a difference
C U R R E N T
C H A L L E N G E S I N E F F
I C I E N T
R E C Y C L I N G
A typical waste management process includes the collection of waste in a recovery facility, segregation into different waste fractions, cleaning, and final classification into materials that are placed in landfills, burned, or recycled based on the type and purity.
When the recycled portion is not pure enough for reuse, we lose recyclable material to landfill or energy production
The sorting process is a critical step in recycling Better sorting accuracy means better separation of different grades of material, which results in higher value recovery. A typical sorting process is based on a mix of techniques and cannot rely on just one detection technology The detection technology used often limits the types and the amount of the collected material that can be sorted.
Most of the recycling plants use different technologies from bar code readers and RGB cameras to X-Ray and Eddy current systems. While they are capable technologies to a certain extent, they are not perfect solutions as their capability to identify the material is limited
For example, if a plastic bottle is missing the barcode, it is not possible to detect if it is PET or HDPE.
Eddy-current detectors can sort out conductive metals but not separate plastics or pulp. RGB cameras can sort bottles into transparent, black, and coloured but cannot distinguish one plastic type from another
The poor sorting result also results in lost profits, which makes recycling unprofitable and dependent on public support.
Different waste streams require different detection and processing methods to be recycled efficiently and current recycling methods are not flexible, efficient, and informative enough to tackle the challenge
To make up for inadequate detection technologies, human labor is still used. Sorting waste by hand is slow, inaccurate, expensive, and dangerous, and separating different plastic types from each other remains impossible because the human eye cannot tell them apart.
The use of hyperspectral imaging in waste sorting has been restricted by the insufficient performance of hyperspectral cameras in terms of speed, spatial resolution, ruggedness, connectivity, and high cost – until recent years.
Hyperspectral cameras can differentiate materials accurately and reliably based on their chemical composition. They measure and analyse the spectrum of light reflected from or transmitted through the material. When measuring the spectrum beyond the visible region called near-infrared (NIR), we see that chemically different materials have unique spectra.
The recent development has improved both speed and resolution of hyperspectral cameras, while their implementation cost now meets the ROI criteria of commercial solutions. Furthermore, the algorithms and solutions for the real-time processing of a large amount of data produced by hyperspectral cameras are now available.
A line-scan (pushbroom) hyperspectral camera can be installed on existing and new sorting lines with proper illumination and a real-time data processing solution like any line-scan camera. The material identification result, pixel by pixel, is available through a standard interface to commercial machine vision systems. The results can then be used to control the air nozzles or picking robots.
precise information on material type. The latest generation of hyperspectral cameras can increase the purity of recycled materials by close to 100 %. Increasing the purity of recycled plastic by even a few percent can double its value. Extracting more recyclable material also means
A hyperspectral camera solution provides superior performance and several benefits in various waste treatment processes over conventional sensor technologies, as summarised in Table 1. When used together with other technologies, hyperspectral cameras increase sorting accuracy by providing Discover
that we are disposing of less waste in landfills. Compared to a multi-spectral camera with fixed spectral bands, the hyperspectral camera is flexible and can adapt to sorting various waste streams. It can also adopt new sorting algorithms when they become available.
Table 1. Added value by hyperspectral imaging in sorting different types of waste streams
Specim Hyperspectral Imaging Cameras
Out of all the plastic manufactured, only 9% gets recycled 12% is incinerated for energy, and 79% goes to landfills or nature. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. The majority of non-recyclable plastic waste comes from not being able to separate different plastic types from each other reliably.
When we sort and separate plastic, highquality and valuable polymers can be reused The main objective in sorting is to reduce the quantity of non-targeted plastic polymers and the number of non-plastics like paper, metal, glass, oil, soil, or other contaminants.
There may also be unwanted additives like flame retardants within the plastic, that can be detected, identified, and sorted with hyperspectral cameras.
Different polymers have identifiable spectral signatures in the NIR spectral region and can thus be sorted. However, many of the spectral signatures are close to each other. Here, the hyperspectral camera’s high spectral resolution is key to high sorting accuracy With PP, PE, and PET plastics, for example, close to 99% purity can be achieved.
By using a helicopter equipped with an image stabilising gimbal, the infrared camera adds another dimension to the world of aerial thermography and the captured image data An infrared camera in an elevated position provides an excellent thermographic overview for many fields of application. Depending on the task, aircraft as well as drones are also suitable as carriers and offer numerous options.
THERMAL MAPPING WITH
AIRBORNE CAMERA PLATFORMS
Airborne thermal mapping is an essential tool to map the energy budget of individual municipalities on an area-byarea basis. In this way, efforts by municipalities to develop a zero-energy urbanity can be supported by collecting thermographic data quickly and efficiently The VarioCAM® and ImageIR® infrared camera series provide the robust tools needed to record and collect the necessary thermographic data from aerial platforms such as drones.
Furthermore, distributed heating networks require extended and efficient remote maintenance With airborne thermography systems, an instant overview of the network's condition can be created. This allows teams on the ground to react immediately to defects and leaks using a thermal map created bytheairbornemonitoringplatform.
10 GigE Interface for a Strong Increase in Output
The 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface of the high-end camera series ImageIR® opens this extremely fast transmission standard with a NIC specially developed by InfraTec This works with optical or electrical transceiver modules that are easy to change and are called SFP+
Discover more about InfraTec Image IR
SeparateFilter& ApertureWheel
The combination of a separate filter and aperture wheel, allowing a total of 35 freely selectable combinations, is prerequisite for a universal application in measurement tasks with high object temperatures and in the field of spectral thermography. The neutral density filters used for signal attenuation or the combination of spectral filters and apertures reliably prevent interference effects
Multispectral Feature
The multispectral feature makes it possible to record sequences with constantly changing spectral filters Images are recorded synchronously with a rapidly rotating filter wheel equipped with the filters. It may be possible to switch between up to seven filters, depending on the version. Due to this the multispectral measurement can be optimised to suit the measuring task if the preset ranges are unsuitable. The integration times can be adapted within the limits calibrated for this filter
Motor Focus for ImageIR® Full Lenses – More Comfort
All interchangeable standard lens systems of the ImageIR® series can be combined with a motor focus unit, which is controlled by the camera operating software. It enables precise, remote and fast focusing In addition, an autofocus function is available which operates reliably even with low image contrasts
High‐performance Full Optics
High quality precision lenses allow the adaptation of the image geometry to almost every measuring situation Its performance parameters are calibrated with respect to functionality, quality and flexible application. Due to proper IRtransparent lens materials and highprecision antireflexion coating, the lenses are optimised for different spectral ranges
Geometrical Resolution –Efficient Analysis of Complex Assemblies
InfraTec's infrared cameras with cooled and uncooled detectors have native resolutions up to (1,920 × 1,536) IR pixels Spatially highresolution thermograms ensure that components and assemblies are imaged down to the smallest detail and thus defects can be reliably detected and precisely localised
SORTING OF BLACK PLASTICS WITH
HYPERSPECTRAL
CAMERAS
A large fraction of recyclable plastic constitutes of black plastics, used especially in the automotive and electronics industries, which have added carbon-based pigment to produce the dark grey or black color.
Black plastic types have been notoriously difficult to identify, and so far, there has been no reliable sensor technique to sort these materials for reuse. Even NIR hyperspectral cameras struggle, as the black carbonbased pigment absorbs practically all the NIR light
In addition to the NIR region, different plastics have characteristic spectral features in the longer infrared region called mid-wave infrared (MWIR) where most black pigments are ‘less black’ (less absorbing) than in the NIR region. Thus, MWIR light can penetrate in and reflect from black materials, making their spectral identification possible
Pictured is an example of black plastic sorting measured in a laboratory with a Specim FX50 hyperspectral camera Twelve pieces of ABS and PE were measured together with ten pieces of PS (34 altogether) For each sample group, half of the samples were shiny, and the second half with diffuse surfaces The figure below shows that samples made of ABS, PS, and PE could be accurately sorted with the Specim FX50
Specim FX50 allows fast and reliable sorting of:
Black plastics such as PS, PE, PP, ABS and PVC Rubbers
Non-black plastics and rubbers
Discover the Specim FX Series
FULL MWIR SPECTRAL RANGE
For detecting, e.g., black plastics, hydrocarbons, minerals, oil, and contamination on metal surfaces
HIGH FRAME RATE AND SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
For accurate classification and high imaging speed and throughput
OPTIMISED THERMAL MANAGEMENT
To maximise sensor lifespan and minimise downtime
ROBUST AND COMPACT DESIGN
Simple to mount and durable for harsh industrial environments
EASY INTEGRATION
Standard GigE Vision interface to communicate with commercial analysis software
UNIFIED SPECTRAL CALIBRATION
Comparable and transferable data between different units
In the foreseeable future, lithium-ion batteries will not only dominate the automotive industry, but also all otherapplicationswheretheefficient storage of electrical energy is essential.Comparedtootherbattery technologies,theycurrentlyhavethe highest energy density and thus the greatest performance. Apart from a long service life, further benefits of lithium-ion batteries are their high efficiency, the fact that they have a low self-discharge rate and the possibility of reloading them from any state of charge. Lithium-ion batteries range in mass from a few grams up to several hundred kilograms, depending on the application. They provide power betweenafewmilliwattsandseveral hundredkilowatts.Thestoredenergy ranges froma few milliwatt hours till severalhundredkilowatthours
Lithium-ion batteries are complex multi-layer structures made of different substances and sometimes react very sensitively to external influences such as temperature fluctuations, vibrations, damage or moisture. For this reason, the production and storage of highperformance lithium-ion batteries is associated with very high demands onthesafetymeasurestobetaken
Preventive measures for fire protection, for example, play an important role in the storage and transportoflithium-ionbatteries.Due to their property of storing a lot of energy in a very small space, mechanical damage or overheating canleadtotheaggressivereleaseof the ingredients and, among other things, cause damage to health whentheyareinhaledorevenfires
Thelithium-ionbatteryistheheartofan electric car and any other batterypowered device. Accordingly, the parameters to be met for performance, quality and safety are very high. With the help of thermography, compliance with essential process parameters can already be tested and ensured during themanufacturingprocess.
System solutions with infrared cameras from InfraTec make it possible, for example, to detect minimal defects and contamination in coatings or defects on the separator foils of lithium-ion batteries and to arrange for their removal. Defect-free coating systems and intact separators not only prevent short circuits and the associated safety risks They are also the basic prerequisite for high-performance battery warehouses with a long service life By using thermographic cameras with a resolution up to 52 megapixels, even the smallest defects or contaminations can be reliably detectedalsoonlargersurfaces
Thermal imaging is also used to check weld seams, adhesive joints and the tightness of a battery housing InfraTec's thermally and geometrically high-resolution infrared cameras can be used to create thermographic images that can be analysed to test the quality ofjointsquickly,preciselyandnondestructively
As a non-contact, non-destructive testing method, thermal imaging helps todetectfaultsinproductionatanearly stage in order to avoid rejects and minimise rework – and thus to achieve significant cost optimisation in the manufacturing process InfraTec's infrared cameras can be flexibly adapted to any inspection or measurement task and can be easily and individually integrated into existing systemenvironments.
Discover more
LET’S HAVE A CHAT
Discuss your lithium ion battery application with our Technical Sales Manager, Dr Luke Nicholls Call (01372) 378822
Email luke@qd-ukicouk
about InfraTec Image IR
IN-SITU X-RAY APPROACHES IN BATTERY RESEARCH
OVERVIEW
X-rays provide critical insight on failure mechanisms and lifetimes of energy materials because they can provide nondestructive measurements of structure, chemistry, and composition of batteries while they are running (in operando) or over time. Because of this, synchrotron approaches have been critical to the development of improvements to existing lithium ion batteries and for creating novel energy schemes such as lithium-sulfur and lithium-air batteries.
Sigray’s portfolio of x-ray systems enable some of the most cutting-edge research in novel battery formulations and materials, including changes to the chemistry, composition, and structure of batteries as a function of cycling
XAS has become a gold standard approach for characterising structural and electronic information of electrodes, thereby providing an understanding of electrochemical mechanisms governing a given battery’s chemistry
Sigray’s QuantumLeap enables both ex-situ determination of electrocatalyst chemistry and the use of in-situ cells to study chemical changes in-operando
the world are ntumLeap for novel battery f the groups are ith high quality ANES data. One up at Shanghai ity (SJTU), who in the promising by carbon dot anode materials ifetime
3D X-ray Microscopy has become a gold standard for investigating battery failures and the structural defects that cause them Shown to the right are various failures investigated with Sigray’s EclipseXRM in intact batteries More information and figures can be seen in the article below, published on Cell Reports and using EclipseXRM (previous generation was named PrismaXRM) for the xray microscopy images and AttoMap for the microXRF data
Hierarchical imaging of battery with Sigray PrismaXRM. Publication by GB Zan. Sample courtesy of J Zhang, F Monaco, G Qian, J Li, P Cloetens, P Pianetta, and Y Liu.
3DIMAGINGOFINTACT BATTERIESANDBATTERIES
IN-OPERANDO
From the Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Sigray’s EclipseXRM provides submicron high resolution even for large samples and samples placed within in situ cells. The flexibility of the EclipseXRM in switching between multiple fields of view allows hierarchical characterisation of batteries – from the full FOV to detailed region-ofinterest imaging – without requiring de-packaging the battery This allows non-destructive identification of problems such as small defects (cracks, particles) and shorts.
TRANSITION-METAL PRECIPITATIONMAPPING
From Materials Today
High-nickel LiNixMnyCo1-x-yO2 (NMC) cathodes have emerged as a highly promising cathode candidate for nextgeneration lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) Battery cell operation with a high cutoff voltage is another broadly adopted approach to increase energy and power density Unfortunately, the high-voltage cycling approach exacerbates the degradation of the NMC cathode, including the surface lattice reconstruction and transition metal dissolution Sigray’s AttoMap microXRF uncovers the diffused precipitation of Mn, Co, and Ni, as well as their spatial distributions on the lithium metal anode
Sigray AttoMap used to measure diffused precipitation of Mn, Co, and Ni, as well as their spatial distributions on the lithium metal anode.
CONTAMINATION IN BATTERY MANUFACTURING AND METAL MIGRATION
Thermal runaway is one of the primary concerns in lithium ion batteries (LIBs) that is often caused by an internal short circuit Such shorts can occur because of contaminants such as iron particles introduced during the manufacturing process Sigray’s AttoMap microXRF provides high sensitivity at rapid speeds (down to 2ms/point) to quickly screen for contaminants.
For R&D researchers, the AttoMap’s high spatial resolution and sensitivity enable imaging of trace-level metal migration in electrodes between battery cycling. The system complements XRD and XAS systems by providing the distribution of elements of interest at microns-scale resolution
Iron contaminants found in a large electrode surface. These contaminants were then segmented and quantified (size and number).
Sigray develops laborator instruments for studying microstructure, chemistr and composition. These instruments are enabled by patented ultra-high brightness x-ray source and high efficiency x-ray focusing optic technolog
Discover the X-ray Range at QDUKI
Impurities measured with Sigray AttoMap. Published in Cell Reports.
Highlights
• Multiscale and 3D visualisation of structural defects in commercial batteries
• Elucidation of the impurity particles’ detrimental effects on the battery performance
• Functional mechanisms of structural defects in commercial batteries are summarised
Read the Article in Cell Reports
LET’S HAVE A CHAT
Discuss how Sigray can resolve your lithium ion battery challenges with our Technical Sales Manager, Dr. Luke Nicholls Call (01372) 378822 Email luke@qd-ukicouk
Cryogenics
Highlights:
Customisable Cryostats
Focus on Temperature Sensors
Lowest Temperature Measurements
The Next Generation of Helium Recovery
Space
Highlights:
Imaging Venus with SWIR
Temperature Sensors for Space
Measurement of Space Optics/Structures
Optical Filters for Astronomy
Imaging Cameras
Highlights:
here
Advancing Geology with Hyperspectral Imaging
Avoiding Contamination in the Food Industry
SWIR Cameras for Telecomms Applications
Streak Cameras in Action
Semiconductors
Highlights:
Camera of PET Semiconductor Inspection
Power Electronics Efficient Control of the Future Energy
Analyse Electronic Components of Semiconductors using AFM
