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  • 4D imaging of lithium-batte...
    Ziesche, Ralf F; Arlt, Tobias; Finegan, Donal P; Heenan, Thomas M M; Tengattini, Alessandro; Baum, Daniel; Kardjilov, Nikolay; Markötter, Henning; Manke, Ingo; Kockelmann, Winfried; Brett, Dan J L; Shearing, Paul R

    Nature communications, 02/2020, Volume: 11, Issue: 1
    Journal Article

    The temporally and spatially resolved tracking of lithium intercalation and electrode degradation processes are crucial for detecting and understanding performance losses during the operation of lithium-batteries. Here, high-throughput X-ray computed tomography has enabled the identification of mechanical degradation processes in a commercial Li/MnO primary battery and the indirect tracking of lithium diffusion; furthermore, complementary neutron computed tomography has identified the direct lithium diffusion process and the electrode wetting by the electrolyte. Virtual electrode unrolling techniques provide a deeper view inside the electrode layers and are used to detect minor fluctuations which are difficult to observe using conventional three dimensional rendering tools. Moreover, the 'unrolling' provides a platform for correlating multi-modal image data which is expected to find wider application in battery science and engineering to study diverse effects e.g. electrode degradation or lithium diffusion blocking during battery cycling.