Maintaining Quality Across the Battery Lifecycle

July 30, 2025

Modern society relies heavily on portable electrical power – supplied primarily by batteries. From smartphones and laptops to tablets and electric vehicles, none would function without a reliable power source. Since Alessandro Volta developed the first battery in the 18th century, countless battery types have emerged, varying in chemical composition and size, and serving applications ranging from flashlights to large-scale energy storage for power grids.

Regardless of a battery’s size, purpose, or whether it’s a primary (non-rechargeable) or secondary (rechargeable) system, elemental analysis of individual components (particularly for carbon, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen) is often essential. Instruments like the ELEMENTRAC CS-i and ONH-p2 analyzers enable accurate and reliable measurement of C/S and O/N across a broad concentration range.

ELEMENTRAC analyzers assess the entire sample using combustion or inert gas fusion, ensuring comprehensive, consistent results from trace ppm levels to high percentages.

Why the Full Element Picture Matters

Battery materials are chemically complex – and impurities like sulfur or nitrogen can degrade performance, stability, and cycle life. Even small oxygen residues can catalyze unwanted reactions in electrodes.

In battery production labs, Eltra’s CS‑i is frequently used to quantify sulfur in lead paste – delivering precise values within minutes. Despite sample heterogeneity, repeatability often lands around 0.5% RSD, highlighting its robustness even under challenging conditions.

With ONH‑p, labs can characterize nitrogen and oxygen levels in ceramic separators, silicon-based anodes, and solid electrolytes, empowering designers with critical insights into impurity-driven behavior

Interested in implementing C/S or O/N/H analysis in your lab?

ATS Scientific and ELTRA can help you configure the right solution based on your workflow, sample type, and throughput needs.

The ELEMENTRAC ONH-p2 analyzer

Uses fusion furnace (>3000 °C) for deep gas extraction
Detects O, N, H from the ppm range to high concentration levels
Sample prep: typically 50-1000 mg in nickel capsule or special basket depending on sample nature
Fast measurement: 2-4 minutes per run

The ELEMENTRAC CS-i Analyzer

Measures carbon and sulfur from 0.6 ppm to 64 % in one gram of sample
Ideal for powders or solids (e.g. lead paste, cathode materials)
Analysis takes just 40–60 seconds per sample
Typical sample weights: 250–500 mg, with accelerator agents to prevent swirling and incomplete combustion

Click here to read the full application report with real life samples.