We present a supercritical radiative shock experiment performed with the LULI nanosecond laser facility. Using targets filled with xenon gas at low pressure, the propagation of a strong shock with a radiative precursor is evidenced. The main measured shock quantities (electronic density and propagation velocity) are shown to be in good agreement with theory and numerical simulations.

International audienceIn this article, we present a laboratory astrophysics experiment on radiative shocks and its interpretation using simple modelization. The experiment is performed with a 100-J laser (pulse duration of about 0.5 ns) which irradiates a 1-mm^3 xenon gas-filled cell. Descriptions of both the experiment and the associated diagnostics are given. The apparition of a radiation precursor in the unshocked material is evidenced from interferometry diagrams. A model including self-similar solutions and numerical ones is derived and fairly good agreements are obtained between the theoretical and the experimental results

Metallic lithium deposition is a typical aging mechanism observed in lithium-ion cells at low temperature and/or at high charge rate. Lithium dendrite growth not only leads to strong capacity fading, it also causes safety concerns such as short-circuits in the cell. In applications such as electric vehicles, the use of lithium-ion batteries combines discharging, long rest time and charging phases. It is foremost a matter of lifetime and safety from the perspective of the consumer or the investor. This study presents the post-mortem analyses of commercial 16 Ah Graphite/NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt layered oxide) Li-ion pouch cells. The cells were degraded by calendar aging at high temperature with or without periodic capacity tests. Unexpected local depositions of metallic lithium were confirmed on graphite electrodes by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Biphenyl, a monomer additive present in the liquid electrolyte, generates gas during its polymerization reaction occurring at high temperature and at high state of charge. As a result, dry-out areas are present between the electrodes leading to high impedance regions and no charge transfer between the electrodes. It is at the border of these areas that lithium metal is deposited. Lithium-ion batteries have the particularity of addressing applications as diverse as mobile electronic devices, electric vehicles or stationary applications of renewable energy. The use of rechargeable electrochemical cells is first and foremost a question of autonomy, lifetime and safety.1-3 So it is necessary to further increase the current performance of lithium-ion batteries.Deposition of metallic lithium or "lithium plating" is one of the aging mechanisms that is limiting the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] In the literature, it is reported that the mechanism of lithium deposition generally occurs during the charge at low temperatures and/or at high current-rates. The intercalation of lithium ions into the structure of the negative electrode is in competition with the deposition of metallic lithium on top of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI). The morphology of the negative electrode, the porosity, the conductivity of the electrolyte and the state of lithiation are parameters to be considered. 8 This aging mechanism depends on intrinsic criteria of the components of the cell (active material, electrodes and electrolyte composition [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] ) and extrinsic to the system (temperature and charging current).Contact between the deposited lithium and the electrolyte (above the surface of the SEI) leads to the oxidation of lithium to form species such as ROCO 2 Li, Li 2 CO 3 or LiF. 15 The deposited lithium becomes isolated and electrochemically inactive and cannot participate in the electrochemical process at the electrodes. The deposit can grow in height from graphite particles and form dendrites which can pass through the separator and cause short circuit. This phenomena in combinatio...