Visualizing the chemistry and structure dynamics in lithium-ion batteries by in-situ neutron diffraction

Sci Rep. 2012:2:747. doi: 10.1038/srep00747. Epub 2012 Oct 19.

Abstract

We report an in-situ neutron diffraction study of a large format pouch battery cell. The succession of Li-Graphite intercalation phases was fully captured under an 1C charge-discharge condition (i.e., charge to full capacity in 1 hour). However, the lithiation and dilithiation pathways are distinctively different and, unlike in slowing charging experiments with which the Li-Graphite phase diagram was established, no LiC₂₄ phase was found during charge at 1C rate. Approximately 75 mol. % of the graphite converts to LiC₆ at full charge, and a lattice dilation as large as 4% was observed during a charge-discharge cycle. Our work demonstrates the potential of in-situ, time and spatially resolved neutron diffraction study of the dynamic chemical and structural changes in "real-world" batteries under realistic cycling conditions, which should provide microscopic insights on degradation and the important role of diffusion kinetics in energy storage materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Electrodes
  • Graphite / chemistry
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Lithium / chemistry*
  • Neutron Diffraction

Substances

  • Ions
  • Graphite
  • Lithium