Batteries are inherently complex and dynamic systems, often operating far from equilibrium, with physical and chemical properties that change significantly between the charged and discharged states and over the life of the cell. Real-time, in situ measurements are the best, and often the only way of establishing true correlations between the material properties (e.g., structure, bonding, morphology, phase distributions) and the electrochemical behavior (e.g., capacity, rate capability, cycle life). In addition, the development of improved lithium battery materials (with greater capacities, rate capabilities and thermal stabilities) requires new tools to better understand how reaction conditions affect nucleation and crystallization, particle size, morphology and defects. Our recent progress using specialized capillary reactors to investigate the synthesis of lithium electrode materials using synchrotron x-ray diffraction will be presented. In addition, our efforts to develop new synchrotron and electron microscopy tools to characterize electrodes in operando during electrochemical cycling will also be covered.

In situ studies of lithium battery materials

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.