Battery Characterization Technologies

In situ sample preparation and microstructural characterization with high-resolution imaging have proven to be the keys to advancing battery technologies, linking multiscale and multi-dimensional structures of battery components to their electrochemical performance.

The addition of a focused ion beam column to a scanning electron microscope allows you to mill a sample in situ to expose and observe features of interest below the surface. Our Thermo Scientific focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes (FIB-SEMs), provide 2D and 3D image analysis capabilities to develop understanding of battery structure and performance correlations in multiple dimensions. They enable characterization from the millimeter scale to the nanometer scale with key features for different battery applications. FIB-SEMs have been proven to be increasingly vital tools in the battery field, as they enable both fundamental battery materials research as well as quality control (QC) and failure analysis (FA) in battery production.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides high-resolution characterization at the sub-nanometer scale, delivering information to support the elucidation of behavior at the atomic level. Using TEM, scientists and engineers can delve deeper into the intricate details of material structures such as atomic arrangement and crystal structure to gain insights into the relationship between structure and functionality that are inaccessible with alternative techniques.

For battery applications, TEM techniques such as high-resolution imaging, electron diffraction, EDS, and EELS, can provide you valuable insights into the morphology, crystal structure, and chemical information of battery components. It is well-suited for nanoscale characterization of beam-sensitive materials commonly found in battery research, such as solid-electrolyte interphases (SEI). Resolving the SEI’s composition and structure is essential for understanding how lithium ions move in and out of the electrode, providing information on how the capacity retention drops over battery cycling. Such insights are crucial for developing next-gen batteries and gaining a mechanistic understanding of aging and failure mechanisms. Our TEM systems for the battery industry incorporate sample holders designed specifically for materials of interest. They also feature integrated workflows for the analysis of air-sensitive and beam-sensitive battery materials in their native electrochemical states.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a surface analysis technique that provides quantitative elemental, electronic state, chemical state, and bonding information for the uppermost layers of a sample. For the battery industry, it is especially useful for studying surface phenomena, such as interface reactions, surface contamination, and notably, for elucidating the mechanisms associated with the formation of the SEI. For example, cathode and anode materials of Li-ion cells can be studied to confirm post-cycling changes in composition, to understand the changes in the chemistry of the electrode components, and to determine how the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer varies in depth as it develops. XPS has proved useful in studying surface pre-treatment of graphite electrode materials to significantly slow the irreversible consumption of material during battery charging.

Li-metal is one of the most important anode materials for next-generation batteries. However, due to its intrinsic properties of air, moisture, and beam sensitivity, characterizing it via scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) analysis is one of the most critical, while challenging, tasks. The IGST Workflow enables high-resolution atomic-scale analysis on Li- metal samples. It allows you to focus on your research rather than worry about contaminating the sample.