For the first time, researchers capture 3D images of the crystal
structure inside of operating single electrode particles. The images
revealed unexpected results, as detailed in a recent journal article.solar street light lithium battery
Drop a sponge into a water bucket, and the sponge will quickly soak
up the water. The water works its way through the sponge, saturating
every inch from the outside in. When you turn on the battery in your
electric vehicle (EV), a similar phenomenon occurs. Lithium (Li) ions
rush through the battery, powering up the motor and other electrical
systems that propel your vehicle forward. Just as a sponge soaks up the
water until the water molecules are distributed throughout, electrode
materials absorb Li ions when you operate your EV battery cell. Yet, the
Li doesn’t always distribute evenly, which can cause the battery to
degrade over time. In order to better understand the distribution of Li
inside an operating battery, NREL energy storage researcher Donal
Finegan used an innovative technique to take 3D images of microscopic
particles in a battery electrode during operation—the first
demonstration of its kind.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are used in a variety of
applications—from cell phones to electric vehicles to the electrical
grid—and they are growing in demand. Unfortunately, battery cost and
lifespan limit their widespread use in these applications. NREL conducts
fundamental science research aimed at improving the lifespan,
performance, and cost of Li-ion batteries using state-of-the-art
modeling, experimentation, materials synthesis, and diagnostics.
Finegan, who specializes in the application of X-ray techniques to
diagnose battery failure and degradation mechanisms, takes 3D images of
battery materials across multiple length scales.
“In order to better understand the degradation of battery electrodes
over time, we have to see how the lithium distributes while the battery
is in operation,” said Finegan. “This is very challenging because at the
micrometer scale we are trying to capture gradient changes that are
short-lived. Everything is happening in a very short timespan on a very
small scale.”
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