A special experimental set-up is available at the SLS for high resolution studies of structural changes in battery electrodes during operation.

Lithium-ion batteries could be improved by using high energy density materials. However, these materials have large volume changes during electrochemical operation leading to capacity loss and shorter battery lifetime. Using time resolved x-ray tomographic microscopy, engineers can relate the macroscopic battery electrochemical behaviour to structural and chemical changes in electrodes at the single-particle scale.

An electrochemical cell, transparent to x-rays, is available at the SLS to study electrodes during battery operation in real time in a realistic environment. Structural and chemical changes in the electrode leading to electrochemical and mechanical degradation can be tracked whilst the battery is charged and discharged.

References

Visualization and quantification of electrochemical and mechanical degradation in Li ion batteries
Ebner M, Marone F, Stampanoni M, Wood V
Science. 2013;342:716.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241882