Improving Li-ion batteries through materials characterisation

Researchers face significant challenges in improving the performance of Lithium ion batteries. This webcast will explore how material characterisation is key to balancing the essential battery qualities of energy density, power density, cost, safety and lifetime.

The speakers will present recent research results of advanced materials characterisation techniques that address all battery components, enabling design improvements to battery materials for higher performance.

They will demonstrate how characterisation in the electron microscope, using the latest Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) detector technology, benefits research on novel anode and cathode materials and elucidates Lithium diffusion in solid electrolytes.

They will show how benchtop NMR systems can be used to study liquid electrolytes and determine diffusion coefficients as well as to measure potentially hazardous reaction breakdown products such as HF.

They will also show how Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) can be used for operando studies of batteries to visualise ionic movement, as well as to probe electrochemical reactivity with nanoscale resolution.

You will learn how:

•  EDS and EBSD can be used for complete structural and compositional characterisation of solid-state battery materials such as anode and cathode materials and solid electrolytes
•  NMR addresses research and quality control questions on liquid electrolytes
•  Operando studies in the AFM can elucidate fundamental processes in Li-ion batteries

We will do this with reference to specific examples including cleanliness of powders used for production of electrode material. EBSD analysis of electrodes and Li detection in solid-state electrolytes using EDS.