Enhancing Battery Reliability, Efficiency and Safety

X-ray microscopy (XRM) offers numerous advantages for the non-destructive characterization of batteries. Unlike traditional techniques that require the removal of components and risk contamination, XRM allows batteries to be studied intact, preserving their natural physical and chemical environment.

The technique provides real-time information on physical, electrochemical, and micro-to-nano structural changes during charge/discharge cycles, crucial for understanding battery dynamics under various operating conditions. With submicron and nanoscale resolution, XRM facilitates the detection of defects, cracks, and delamination events, impacting battery performance and lifetime. Its multiscale capability allows for a comprehensive investigation, from the macroscopic view of the entire device to the microscopic examination of individual components, helping to correlate phenomena at different length scales.

Additionally, in situ and in operando experiments provide valuable insights into battery behavior under real-world conditions. By eliminating destructive testing and sample preparation, XRM reduces the cost and time of investigation, allowing multiple batteries to be studied and extensive experiments to be conducted. It also provides multimodal information by simultaneously quantifying the morphology and composition of batteries for a holistic view of their internal structure and chemical makeup.

This work is a result from a collaboration between the Research Center on Nanotechnology Applied to Engineering (CNIS), Dept. of Basic and Applied Sciences to Engineering (SBAI) of Sapienza University of Rome and the ENEA Casaccia Research Center.

The research team at the ENEA Casaccia Research Center, composed by Dr. Pier Paolo Prosini, Dr. Claudia Paoletti and Dr. Annalisa Aurora (middle image), has been engaged in the fabrication and assembly of various types of batteries. The CNIS research team (left and right image), supported by SBAI and composed by Dr. Flavio Cognigni, Prof. Marco Rossi, Prof. Mauro Pasquali and Prof. Francesca Anna Scaramuzzo, focused on designing experiments to be conducted using sub-micron XRM, followed by image processing and 3D modelling. The SBAI research team was responsible for subjecting the cells to successive charge and discharge cycles to identify potential microstructural variations within the cells through XRM. The three institutions, working collaboratively, subsequently evaluated the experimental results presented in the scientific paper.

Overall, the paper demonstrated the potential of multiscale in-situ XRM as a powerful tool for non-destructive battery investigation, providing insights into the inner workings of batteries and monitoring their behavior and evolution over time. This technique has significant implications for battery research and development, especially in the context of advancing European industry and transitioning towards a sustainable and circular economy.

The battery degradation process revealed through XRM provides critical insights that can pave the way for developing the battery of the future. By closely monitoring the degradation mechanisms, researchers can identify key factors that contribute to reduced battery performance and lifetime. This knowledge can be leveraged to design more durable and longer-lasting battery materials and architectures.

Understanding the root causes of defects, cracks, and delamination events enables the development of advanced electrode and separator materials with improved structural stability, mitigating these issues and enhancing battery reliability.

Moreover, the real-time operating information provided by X-ray microscopy provides valuable feedback on how batteries respond to various stressors and operating conditions. This information can be used to optimize battery management systems, improving the efficiency and safety of battery operation.

The high spatial resolution of X-ray microscopy allows researchers to investigate the micro- and nanoscale structure of battery components, providing insights into the interactions between active materials, electrolytes, and current collectors. This can lead to the design of tailored interfaces and coatings that optimize ion transport and minimize unwanted side reactions, ultimately improving battery performance and reducing degradation.