Sensing the internal temperature of lithium-ion batteries is particularly useful for reliable battery operation as both electrochemistry and mass transport are dictated by local temperature. In this article, we review in operando techniques to monitor the internal temperature of lithium-ion batteries during charging and discharging. We categorize existing techniques into two groups: invasive and non-invasive approaches. Invasive techniques include optical fibers, thermocouples, and resistance temperature detectors as a thermometer. Non-invasive methods cover the temperature estimation techniques, namely electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as well as X-ray thermometry. For both approaches, we review working principle of thermometry, pros and cons of each thermometry, and recent studies to tackle relevant technical challenges. This review provides useful information for internal temperature measurements, offering chances for thermally reliable battery operation.

Most temperature indicators that use thermocouples as sensors include an internal thermometer for compensating room temperature variations. This thermometer measures ambient temperature, which is then converted to a thermoelectric voltage. This voltage is added to the electromotive force measured in the thermocouple sensor and then converted back to temperature. Although precise calibration of the indicator can be conducted in a controlled room-temperature environment, additional uncertainty arises due to room temperature compensation during actual measurements. To address this issue, we calibrated temperature indicator at the ice point. In this experiment, the indicator was placed in an environment where the temperature varied between 8 and 38oC, demonstrating its dependency on ambient temperature. In a second set of experiments, we shorted the thermocouple input terminal to verify whether the indicator correctly indicated the ambient temperature. This study proposed a method to assess additional uncertainty that must be considered when using a thermocouple connected to an indicator calibrated with an external ice point in a laboratory. It also highlights additional steps and factors to consider during the calibration of temperature indicators that employ internal temperature compensation.