Multiscale Electron Microscopy Characterization of Materials and Interfaces for Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are essential for advancing clean energy technologies. To meet the growing demand for energy storage, there is a need for higher efficiency and longer-lasting batteries. This has spurred intense research and development, particularly in all-solid-state Li-ion batteries (ASSBs), which are gaining significant attention due to their lower flammability and the potential for using high energy density metal anodes in these systems.

Battery performance, whether utilizing solid or liquid electrolytes, is influenced by structures and phenomena occurring at multiple length scales. To better understand battery performance and degradation, as well as to predict the behavior of new materials and architectures, it is crucial to characterize battery materials across these varying scales. Electron microscopy plays a vital role in battery research, offering imaging and spectroscopy capabilities from atomic resolution to microns. Recent advancements in cryogenic and low-dose characterization techniques using electron microscopy are providing fresh insights into the detailed structure of ASSBs. For example, local structural changes at interfaces, such as the densification of layered NMC cathodes, shed light on the mechanisms underlying performance degradation in solid-state batteries. When combined with longer-length scale measurements using electrons and X-rays, these tools contribute significantly to a comprehensive understanding of battery performance.

This work focuses on multiscale and multimodal studies of battery materials using electron microscopy. We emphasize methods that maintain structural integrity at high resolutions through the use of newly developed detectors and low-dose techniques. Our findings demonstrate the importance of integrating high-resolution electron microscopy measurements with other experimental modalities and theoretical approaches to develop a holistic understanding of the evolution of materials during battery operation.