Loraine Torres-Castro

Physicist, Battery Safety Lead

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Physicist, Battery Safety Lead

ltorre@sandia.gov

(505) 377-5492

Biography

Loraine joined Sandia in 2016 to conduct research and development into the safety and reliability of batteries under abusive conditions. The abuse testing work Loraine conducts evaluates batteries well outside of manufacturer recommended specifications and the severity of any catastrophic thermal runaway. Her work in the Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory is focused on understanding the mechanisms that lead to energy storage system safety incidents, and developing mitigation strategies for single-cell and system failures. Loraine has innovated abuse testing by targeting problems using a predictive approach (early detection for intervention) to eliminate failure rather than reacting to it. Her work has led to developments on advanced abuse testing, including a fundamental understanding of cell failure to facilitate the design of safer energy storage systems. Her expertise and commitment to safety science have led to multiple cross-collaborations among sponsoring organizations, including the Department of Energy (Office of Electricity and the Vehicle Technologies Office), Department of Transportation, and NASA. On behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office, her team developed and maintains the US Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) Battery Abuse Testing Manual, widely used by car manufacturers to evaluate new technologies. Loraine is also a member of the USABC, for which she provides technical advice and recommendations. She is recognized as a battery safety expert, as demonstrated by invited talks and high visibility of peer-reviewed publications. In addition, Loraine actively mentors on energy storage challenges and professional leadership both in English and Spanish at the University of Puerto Rico, her alma mater.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, 2016
  • B.S. in Physics, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, 2010

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Loraine Torres-Castro

Publications

  • Bates, A.M., Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., Harrison, K., Harris, S.J., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2022). Are solid-state batteries safer than lithium-ion batteries?. Joule, 6(4), pp. 742-755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2022.02.007 Publication ID: 80504
  • Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., Rauhala, T., Jeevarajan, J., & Jeevarajan, J. (2022). Perspective – On the Safety of Aged Lithium-Ion Batteries. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 169(3). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ac53cc Publication ID: 80483
  • Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2022). United States Advanced Battery Consortium Battery Abuse Testing Manual for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Applications. https://doi.org/10.2172/1838583 Publication ID: 79899
  • Bates, A.M., Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., Harrison, K., Harris, S., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2021). Safety Impacts of Liquid Electrolyte Inclusion in Solid State Batteries [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1899474 Publication ID: 76876
  • Bates, A.M., Langendorf, J., Lamb, J., Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., & Torres-Castro, L. (2021). Thermal Stability of Solid-State Battery Components with Liquid Electrolyte [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1894759 Publication ID: 76463
  • Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Hewson, J., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2021). Battery failure propagation and mitigation: models to understand the problem and sensitivities [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1884900 Publication ID: 75447
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Hewson, J., Shurtz, R., Preger, Y., & Preger, Y. (2021). Investigating the Role of Energy Density in Thermal Runaway of Lithium-Ion Batteries with Accelerating Rate Calorimetry. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 168(6). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ac0699 Publication ID: 78773
  • Lamb, J., Shurtz, R., Torres-Castro, L., Hewson, J., Preger, Y., & Preger, Y. (2021). Evaluating the impact of energy density on thermal runaway [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1869553 Publication ID: 78554
  • Hewson, J., Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2021). Modeling and analysis of battery safety [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1884102 Publication ID: 78197
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2021). Mitigation of Failure Propagation: A Model-Based Experimental Design [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1847231 Publication ID: 77303
  • Kurzawski, A., Hewson, J., Shurtz, R., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2021). Battery failure propagation: models to understand the problem and sensitivities [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1844058 Publication ID: 75389
  • Kurzawski, A., Torres-Castro, L., Shurtz, R., Lamb, J., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2021). Predicting cell-to-cell failure propagation and limits of propagation in lithium-ion cell stacks. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38(3), pp. 4737-4745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2020.06.270 Publication ID: 74838
  • Kurzawski, A., Torres-Castro, L., Shurtz, R., Lamb, J., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2020). Predicting cell-to-cell failure propagation and limits of propagation in lithium-ion cell stacks [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1835977 Publication ID: 72211
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Grosso, C., Gray, L., & Gray, L. (2020). Alternative battery Failure Initiation [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1831373 Publication ID: 71727
  • Preger, Y., Wittman, R., Fresquez, A., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2020). Long-term Performance and Safety of Commercial Li-ion Cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1821102 Publication ID: 74885
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Preger, Y., Hewson, J., Shurtz, R., Langendorf, J., & Langendorf, J. (2020). Accelerating Rate Calorimetry of Large Format Cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1822287 Publication ID: 70922
  • Shurtz, R., Torres-Castro, L., Kurzawski, A., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2020). Predicting Thermal Responses for Actively Cooled Designs Following Thermal Runaway [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1822289 Publication ID: 70924
  • Shurtz, R., Hewson, J., Kurzawski, A., Torres-Castro, L., & Torres-Castro, L. (2020). Material Science-Based Predictions of Single-Cell Thermal Failures [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1822291 Publication ID: 70926
  • Hewson, J., Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2020). Thermal Analysis to Mitigate Cascading Propagation of Lithium-ion Cell Stacks [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1822652 Publication ID: 70996
  • Hewson, J., Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2020). Toward predicting trends in propagating failure and its mitigation for a lithium-ion cell stack [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1824733 Publication ID: 71104
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2020). Mitigation of Failure Propagation Through Active Cooling: A Model-Based Experimental Design [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1820901 Publication ID: 74846
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2020). Materials Characterization of Abused Cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1821313 Publication ID: 74914
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Stanley, J., Grosso, C., Gray, L., & Gray, L. (2020). Evaluation of Multi-cell Failure Propagation. https://doi.org/10.2172/1605985 Publication ID: 72938
  • Preger, Y., Barkholtz, H., Torres-Castro, L., Ivanov, S., Fresquez, A., Langendorf, J., Ferreira, S., Chalamala, B.R., & Chalamala, B.R. (2020). Performance and Safety of Commercial Li-ion Cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1764778 Publication ID: 72421
  • Torres-Castro, L., Kurzawski, A., Hewson, J., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2020). Passive Mitigation of Cascading Propagation in Multi-Cell Lithium Ion Batteries. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 167(9). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab84fa Publication ID: 73270
  • Shurtz, R., Kurzawski, A., Hewson, J., Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2019). Evaluating Safety Characteristics of Lithium-Ion Battery Systems Through Cascading Thermal Runaway Experiments and Modeling [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1643422 Publication ID: 66820
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Understanding the factors impacting battery failure propagation and its mitigation [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.1149/MA2020-01199mtgabs Publication ID: 66608
  • Perdue, B., Karulkar, M., Torres-Castro, L., & Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Annual BTMS Testing Section (SNL). https://doi.org/10.2172/1570097 Publication ID: 65485
  • Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2019). Predicting limits of cascading failure of thermal runaway in stacks of Li-ion pouch cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1642902 Publication ID: 65639
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Investigations of the structural and electrochemical properties of overheated Li-ion batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1642928 Publication ID: 65647
  • Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2019). Predicting Limits of Cascading Failure of Thermal Runaway in Stacks of Li-Ion Pouch Cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1641959 Publication ID: 64828
  • Barkholtz, H., Preger, Y., Ivanov, S., Langendorf, J., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Chalamala, B.R., Ferreira, S., & Ferreira, S. (2019). Multi-scale thermal stability study of commercial lithium-ion batteries as a function of chemistry and state-of-charge [Presentation]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.226777 Publication ID: 64990
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Mitigation of Failure Propagation in Multi-Cell Lithium-ion Batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1642178 Publication ID: 65047
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Mechanisms and Materials Impact of Abused Li-ion Batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1642184 Publication ID: 65048
  • Hewson, J., Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Ferreira, S., & Ferreira, S. (2019). Predicting and Mitigating Cascading Failure in Stacks of Lithium-Ion Cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1668920 Publication ID: 65251
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Abuse Test Development: Mechanisms and Materials Impact of Abused Lithium-ion Batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1643648 Publication ID: 65140
  • Kurzawski, A., Shurtz, R., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2019). Predicting and Mitigating Cascading Failure of Thermal Runaway in Stacks of Li-Ion Pouch Cells [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1641889 Publication ID: 64679
  • Deichmann, E.J., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Karulkar, M., Grosso, C., Langendorf, J., Gray, L., Stanley, J., & Stanley, J. (2019). Degradation Mechanisms of Overcharged Li-ion Batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1640108 Publication ID: 68674
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Stanley, J., Karulkar, M., Grosso, C., Gray, L., Poirier, R., & Poirier, R. (2019). Scaling Accelerating Rate Calorimetry Results [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1640176 Publication ID: 68787
  • Karulkar, M., Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., & Torres-Castro, L. (2019). High Precision Characterization of Li-Ion Batteries during Extreme Fast Charging [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1640186 Publication ID: 68799
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Mechanisms and Material Impacts of Overcharge in Lithium Ion Batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1640188 Publication ID: 68802
  • Ferreira, S., Barkholtz, H., Preger, Y., Langendorf, J., Torres-Castro, L., Chalamala, B.R., Lamb, J., & Lamb, J. (2019). Thermal stability study of commercial lithium-ion batteries as a function of cathode chemistry and state-of-charge [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1640189 Publication ID: 68803
  • Shurtz, R., Kurzawski, A., Torres-Castro, L., Preger, Y., Ferreira, S., & Ferreira, S. (2019). Approaches and Considerations for Thermal Abuse Studies of Lithium-Ion Batteries [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1645316 Publication ID: 68808
  • Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Determination of battery state of stability through advanced diagnostics [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1598931 Publication ID: 65604
  • Deichmann, E.J., Torres-Castro, L., & Torres-Castro, L. (2019). Battery Abuse Laboratory Operations [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1592267 Publication ID: 64286
  • Shurtz, R., Preger, Y., Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Hewson, J., Ferreira, S., & Ferreira, S. (2019). From calorimetry measurements to furthering mechanistic understanding and control of thermal abuse in lithium-ion cells. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 166(12), pp. A2498-A2502. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0341912jes Publication ID: 69639
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Stanley, J., Grosso, C., Gray, L., Karulkar, M., & Karulkar, M. (2018). Evaluating the Impact of Initiation Methods on Propagating Thermal Runaway in Lithium-Ion Batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1806858 Publication ID: 60070
  • Preger, Y., Barkholtz, H., Fresquez, A., Mier, F.A., Torres-Castro, L., Langendorf, J., Lamb, J., Chalamala, B.R., Ferreira, S., & Ferreira, S. (2018). Comprehensive Study of Commercial Lithium-Ion Cell Aging Behavior and Abuse Response [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1593044 Publication ID: 59826
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Ferreira, S., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2018). Battery Abuse Test Development [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1594645 Publication ID: 59323
  • Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Karulkar, M., Grosso, C., Langendorf, J., Gray, L., Stanley, J., & Stanley, J. (2018). Degradation Mechanisms of Overcharged Li-ion Batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1806814 Publication ID: 59021
  • Karulkar, M., Lamb, J., Orendorff, C., Torres-Castro, L., Grosso, C., Stanley, J., Steele, L., & Steele, L. (2018). Abuse Testing Overview and Analysis of Lithium Ion Fast Charge [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1583054 Publication ID: 63923
  • Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Karulkar, M., Stanley, J., Grosso, C., & Grosso, C. (2018). Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Differential Capacity (DC) Analysis Techniques to Determine the State of Health (SoH) of Active Load Battery Systems [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1890358 Publication ID: 63295
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Karulkar, M., Stanley, J., Grosso, C., & Grosso, C. (2018). Abuse Testing to Understand High Energy Battery Failure [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1524820 Publication ID: 62330
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Karulkar, M., Stanley, J., Grosso, C., & Grosso, C. (2018). Examining and Controlling the Behavior of Thermal Runaway in Multi Cell Systems [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1515730 Publication ID: 62169
  • Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Karulkar, M., Stanley, J., Grosso, C., & Grosso, C. (2018). Investigations of the structural and electrochemical properties of overcharged Li-ion batteries [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1515626 Publication ID: 62151
  • Lamb, J., Karulkar, M., Torres-Castro, L., Stanley, J., Grosso, C., Steele, L., & Steele, L. (2018). Battery Safety and Abuse Testing [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1648652 Publication ID: 61963
  • Ferreira, S., Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Barkholtz, H., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2018). Battery Failure from a Materials Electrochemical and Thermal Modeling Perspective [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1497559 Publication ID: 60814
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Steele, L., Grosso, C., Quintana, G., Stanley, J., Ferreira, S., Hewson, J., & Hewson, J. (2017). Electrochemical Abuse Testing [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1510399 Publication ID: 53462
  • Lamb, J., Steele, L., Stanley, J., Torres-Castro, L., Grosso, C., Quintana, G., & Quintana, G. (2017). Development of a propagating battery failure test [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1471812 Publication ID: 58502
  • Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Steele, L., Quintana, G., Grosso, C., Stanley, J., & Stanley, J. (2017). Comparison of Propagation Mitigation Techniques and Strategies [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1474219 Publication ID: 53111
  • Lamb, J., Torres-Castro, L., Orendorff, C., Dufek, E., Walker, L., Ho, C., & Ho, C. (2017). Determination of battery stability with advanced diagnostics. https://doi.org/10.2172/1369526 Publication ID: 57174
  • Lamb, J., Steele, L., Stanley, J., Torres-Castro, L., Grosso, C., Quintana, G., & Quintana, G. (2017). Thermal Runaway Propagation Testing [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1458396 Publication ID: 57011
  • Lamb, J., Steele, L., Stanley, J., Torres-Castro, L., Quintana, G., Grosso, C., Orendorff, C., & Orendorff, C. (2017). Alternative Battery Failure Initiation [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1458101 Publication ID: 56647
  • Torres-Castro, L., Lamb, J., Steele, L., Quintana, G., Grosso, C., Stanley, J., Orendorff, C., & Orendorff, C. (2017). Partial Battery Abuse Tests to Determine Battery Stability with Advanced Diagnostics [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1458140 Publication ID: 56625
  • Lamb, J., Steele, L., Torres-Castro, L., Orendorff, C., Grosso, C., Quintana, G., & Quintana, G. (2017). Understanding and Detecting Catastrophic Battery Failure [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1457942 Publication ID: 56258
  • Lamb, J., Steele, L., Torres-Castro, L., Hewson, J., Ferreira, S., & Ferreira, S. (2017). Battery Safety Testing [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1425306 Publication ID: 55056
Showing 10 of 66 publications.