Accelerating Battery Characterization Using Neutron and Synchrotron Techniques: Toward a Multi‐Modal and Multi‐Scale Standardized Experimental Workflow

Abstract

Li‐ion batteries are the essential energy‐storage building blocks of modern society. However, producing ultra‐high electrochemical performance in safe and sustainable batteries for example, e‐mobility, and portable and stationary applications, demands overcoming major technological challenges. Materials engineering and new chemistries are key aspects to achieving this objective, intimately linked to the use of advanced characterization techniques. In particular, operando investigations are currently attracting enormous interest. Synchrotron‐ and neutron‐based bulk techniques are increasingly employed as they provide unique insights into the chemical, morphological, and structural changes inside electrodes and electrolytes across multiple length scales with high time/spatial resolutions. However, data acquisition, data analysis, and scientific outcomes must be accelerated to increase the overall benefits to the academic and industrial communities, requiring a paradigm shift beyond traditional single‐shot, sophisticated experiments. Here a multi‐scale and multi‐technique integrated workflow is presented to enhance bulk characterization, based on standardized and automated data acquisition and analysis for high‐throughput and high‐fidelity experiments, the optimization of versatile and tunable cells, as well as multi‐modal correlative characterization. Furthermore, new mechanisms, methods and organizations such as artificial intelligence‐aided modeling‐driven strategies, coordinated beamtime allocations, and community‐unified infrastructures are discussed in order to highlight perspectives in battery research at large scale facilities.

Understanding Battery Interfaces by Combined Characterization and Simulation Approaches: Challenges and Perspectives

“…A more complete picture of all the characterizations accessible to study battery materials, not only interfaces, is available elsewhere. [ 69 ]…”

“…[88][89][90][91] The in situ spectroelectrochemical Raman technique allows monitoring intermediate species and reaction products generated during battery operation and offers unique access to the (de)lithiation A more complete picture of all the characterizations accessible to study battery materials, not only interfaces, is available elsewhere. [69] dynamics of individual oxide particles in the Li-ion composite cathodes. [85,92] Due to their intrinsic surface selectivity, a combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and FT-IR spectroscopy may, in addition, offer great advantages for probing the structures of reaction intermediates, products, and solvents on the electrode surface.…”

“…Figure 4. Overview of the different characterization techniques currently available to study battery interfaces and interphases formation.A more complete picture of all the characterizations accessible to study battery materials, not only interfaces, is available elsewhere [69]. …”

A Roadmap for Transforming Research to Invent the Batteries of the Future Designed within the European Large Scale Research Initiative BATTERY 2030+

“…This paper summarizes the roadmap developed by the always BATTERY 2030+ consortium and is complemented by a number of articles in this special issue, including also one paper regarding the state‐of‐the‐art. [ 2–11 ]…”

“…This paper summarizes the roadmap developed by the always BATTERY 2030+ consortium and is complemented by a number of articles in this special issue, including also one paper regarding the state-of-the-art. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The market for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries is currently dominated by the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery (LIB), which performs well in most applications and has decreased dramatically in cost. However, current generation LIBs are approaching their performance limits.…”