Sample Prep Checklist for Battery Material Testing

To prepare samples for battery material testing, send dry, clearly labelled material in sealed packaging, with enough quantity for the tests and repeats, plus a written request that states exactly what you want measured. Most delays come from missing information, not from the samples themselves. Use the checklist below before anything leaves your lab.

This guide is for researchers and startup engineers sending powders, electrodes or electrolytes to an outside lab for electrochemical evaluation. Battery samples need more care than many other materials because moisture and air can change them before testing starts.

How to prepare samples for battery material testing: the checklist

Step	Done?
Material is dry and was sealed straight after drying
Quantity agreed with the lab, including repeats and spares
Each container labelled with a sample code, date and handling notes
Air- or moisture-sensitive samples sealed under inert gas
Material data sheet attached (composition, particle size, known properties)
Electrode details listed (loading, thickness, density, foil, binder)
Safety documents the lab and carrier ask for, such as an SDS
Written test request completed and signed off
Confidentiality terms agreed before shipping
Shipping method and arrival date confirmed with the lab

 

Powders

• Quantity: ask the lab how much each test uses, then add enough for repeats and one spare test. Running out halfway forces a second shipment from a different batch.
• Drying: dry active materials as you would before your own cell builds, and record the conditions.
• Containers: use clean, airtight containers; for sensitive powders, seal them in a glovebox and place them in a foil bag.
• One batch: send material from a single batch, and say so in the request.

Coated electrodes

For electrodes, the lab needs numbers, not just the sheet. List active material mass fraction, areal loading, coating thickness, density after calendering, current collector and binder. Dry electrodes before packing, seal them in a foil barrier bag with desiccant, and mark which side is coated if both are not. Drying settings depend on the binder; see our vacuum drying protocols. Plan transit so electrodes arrive early in the week and do not sit in a warehouse.

Air- and moisture-sensitive samples

Some materials react with air or moisture, for example lithium metal, sulfide solid electrolytes and some sodium-containing cathodes. For these, agree handling with the lab before shipping. Seal containers inside a glovebox, place them in a foil bag filled with argon, and mark the outer box and the request form clearly: “open in inert atmosphere only”. Ask the lab how it receives and stores such samples, and whether it can move them to instruments without air exposure. If it cannot, choose another lab or test in-house.

Electrolytes and liquids

State the full composition: salt, concentration, solvents and additives. Include any water content measurement you have. Liquids need leak-proof primary containers, secondary containment and absorbent material. Electrolytes are often regulated for transport, so confirm packaging and paperwork with your carrier and safety office before you book.

Labels and documents

Use short sample codes on every container and keep the full description in the request form. Add the date, the handling note (for example “open in glovebox only”) and a contact name. Ask the lab and carrier which safety documents they need, such as a safety data sheet, and include them with the shipment.

If your material is confidential, agree terms first and use blind codes, keeping the code key in your own lab.

What to include in a battery test request

A clear request prevents the most common delay: the lab having to stop and ask. Copy this template into your request.

Field	What to write
Objective	The question the tests must answer
Samples	Codes, material type, batch, quantity sent
Cell format	Coin or pouch; half cell or full cell; counter electrode
Electrode recipe	Active material : conductive carbon : binder ratio, or “lab to choose”
Electrolyte	Composition and amount, or “lab standard”
Voltage window	Lower and upper cut-off voltages
Formation	Number of cycles and rate
Test plan	Rates, cycle count, rest steps, EIS or other tests
Temperature	Test temperature(s)
Repeats	Number of cells per condition
Reporting	Raw data format, plots, photos, deadline
Leftover samples	Return or destroy

 

If you are unsure whether to test in half cells or full cells, our article on half-cell vs full-cell testing explains what each tells you.

Mistakes that delay testing

• Sending material without a written request, or with “standard tests please”.
• Not enough material for repeats.
• Containers labelled only with internal names nobody outside your lab understands.
• Wet or air-exposed powders that need extra drying or cannot be used.
• Missing electrode loading and thickness data.
• Shipping before the lab confirms it can receive the sample that week.

What a lab cannot fix

A lab can dry a sample again, but it cannot undo contamination, mixed batches or reactions that happened in transit. It also cannot guess the question you wanted answered. If you are unsure what to ask for, talk to the lab before shipping; that conversation is free time saved. Our material evaluation service page explains the tests we run, and Canrd’s R&D team can review your request before samples leave your lab. For general background on preparing and characterising battery materials, this Rigaku webinar on battery material preparation is a useful starting point.

Frequently asked questions

How much material should I send for battery testing?

Ask the lab how much each test uses, then add enough for repeats and a spare test. The amount depends on cell format, loading and number of cells. Send material from a single batch so that all results describe the same sample and can be compared fairly.

Do I need to dry samples before shipping?

Yes. Dry powders and electrodes before packing, seal them immediately and record the conditions. The receiving lab will usually dry them again before cell assembly, but starting dry limits damage in transit. Air-sensitive materials should be sealed under inert gas in a glovebox.

What information should a battery test request include?

State the objective, sample codes and quantities, cell format, electrode recipe, electrolyte, voltage window, formation, test plan, temperature, number of repeats, reporting format and what happens to leftovers. A complete request lets the lab start straight away instead of stopping to ask questions.

Do I need a safety data sheet for my sample?

Ask both the lab and your carrier. Many labs and carriers ask for a safety data sheet or equivalent hazard information, especially for electrolytes and reactive powders. Include it in the box and send a copy by email, so the receiving team knows how to handle the material.

 

Samples ready? Tell us what you are sending and what you need measured, and we will confirm intake details first: send us your samples.