Atom probe analysis of electrode materials for Li-ion batteries: challenges and ways forward
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The worldwide development of electric vehicles as well as large-scale or grid-scale energy storage to compensate for the intermittent nature of renewable energy generation has led to a surge of interest in battery technology. Understanding the factors controlling battery capacity and, critically, their degradation mechanisms to ensure long-term, sustainable and safe operation requires detailed knowledge of their microstructure and chemistry, and their evolution under operating conditions, on the nanoscale. Atom probe tomography (APT) provides compositional mapping of materials in three dimensions with sub-nanometre resolution, and is poised to play a key role in battery research. However, APT is underpinned by an intense electric field that can drive lithium migration, and many battery materials are reactive oxides, requiring careful handling and sample transfer. Here, we report on the analysis of both anode and cathode materials and show that electric-field driven migration can be suppressed by using shielding by embedding powder particles in a metallic matrix or by using a thin conducting surface layer. We demonstrate that for a typical cathode material, cryogenic specimen preparation and transport under ultra-high vacuum leads to major delithiation of the specimen during the analysis. In contrast, the transport of specimens through air enables the analysis of the material. Finally, we discuss the possible physical underpinnings and discuss ways forward to enable shielding from the electric field, which helps address the challenges inherent to the APT analysis of battery materials.
Date Issued
2022-03-07
Date Acceptance
2022-01-26
Citation
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2022, 10 (9), pp.4926-4935
ISSN
2050-7488
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
4926
End Page
4935
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume
10
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2022. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000753570100001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
Chemistry
Chemistry, Physical
ENERGY
Energy & Fuels
LIFEPO4
Materials Science
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physical Sciences
Science & Technology
Technology
TOMOGRAPHY
WAVELENGTH
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-01-27