System and method for quantitatively measuring gases generated by a battery cell or battery cell component as a function of time during testing

A system for measuring gases in a battery cell, comprising:

• a chamber including a cavity configured to receive a test sample, wherein the test sample comprises:
• a battery cell including terminals and a gas port;
• or
• a test fixture including terminals and a gas port, and housing at least a portion of a battery cell;
• a check valve including a first port connected to the gas port of the test sample and a second port connected to a node, the check valve configured to open and allow gases produced by the test sample during testing to pass through when a pressure differential on opposing sides of the check valve is greater than a predetermined pressure differential;
• a first gas source connected to the node via a pressure regulator and a flow controller, the first gas source configured to supply a carrier gas from the gas source to the node without passing to the chamber, the carrier gas supplied to the node via the pressure regulator and the flow controller at a regulated pressure and flow rate, the carrier gas including an inert gas and a reference gas having a predetermined concentration;
• and
• a mass spectrometer configured to sample gas at the node and to determine a concentration of one or more gases in the battery cell as a function of time, wherein the gas sampled includes the carrier gas and the gases produced by the test sample and entrained in the carrier gas.