PEC’s ICT0550 cell tester adds integrated EIS with 15 mHz–10 kHz sweep and no additional cabling

PEC has enhanced its ICT0550 Integrated Cell Test System by incorporating onboard electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), allowing users to perform impedance characterisation without the need for a separate analyser or additional cabling. The system supports a frequency sweep range from 15 mHz to 10 kHz with current amplitudes up to ±5 A, and offers both DC-superposed and live measurement modes. This integration streamlines the testing process by eliminating manual reconnections and enabling impedance measurements at any stage during a test sequence. The ICT0550 is designed to accommodate various cell formats, including cylindrical, pouch, prismatic, and coin cells, all on a single platform. It features a pallet-based sample handling system that facilitates offline cell preparation and rapid swapping between test runs, significantly reducing downtime. Safety is a key focus, with real-time monitoring, gas sampling, dual-vent protection, and video surveillance ensuring secure operation of cells under test. PEC’s LifeTest software manages data collection, test tracking, and traceability across multiple sites, providing a comprehensive solution for cell development and analysis. EIS plays a crucial role in characterising battery cells by measuring internal impedance across frequencies, which helps separate components such as ohmic resistance, charge-transfer resistance, and diffusion effects. The ability to perform EIS directly within the cycling platform offers engineers greater flexibility and efficiency in evaluating cell performance. By extending the frequency sweep down to 15 mHz, the ICT0550 captures timescales relevant to diffusion-limited processes, while the ±5 A amplitude ensures the perturbation remains small enough to maintain linearity for most chemistries. This advancement represents a significant step forward in integrated cell testing, enabling more detailed and convenient impedance analysis that supports improved battery research and development.