Advanced Characterization of Solid-State Battery Materials Using Neutron Scattering Techniques †

Eric Novak, Luke Daemen, Niina Jalarvo

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Advanced batteries require advanced characterization techniques, and neutron scattering is one of the most powerful experimental methods available for studying next-generation battery materials. Neutron scattering offers a non-destructive method to probe the complex structural and chemical processes occurring in batteries during operation in truly in situ/in operando measurements with a high sensitivity to battery-relevant elements such as lithium. Neutrons have energies comparable to the energies of excitations in materials and wavelengths comparable to atomic distances in the solid state, thus giving access to study structural and dynamical properties of materials on an atomic scale. In this review, a broad overview of selected neutron scattering techniques is presented to illustrate how neutron scattering can be used to gain invaluable information of solid-state battery materials, with a focus on in situ/in operando methods. These techniques span multiple decades of length and time scales to uncover the complex processes taking place fundamentally on the atomic scale and to determine how these processes impact the macroscale properties and performance of functional battery systems. This review serves the solid-state battery research community by examining how the unique capabilities of neutron scattering can be applied to answer critical and unresolved questions of materials research in this field. A thorough and broad perspective is provided with numerous practical examples showing these techniques in action for battery research.

Original languageEnglish
Article number6209
JournalMaterials
Volume17
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

Funding

The neutron scattering experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory\u2019s (ORNL) Spallation Neutron Source were supported by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The beam time was allocated to the VISION and BASIS beamlines on proposal number IPTS-25657. ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the U.S. DOE under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725. This research received external funding NSF Cooperative Agreement No. DMR-2128556 and the State of Florida.

Keywords

  • inelastic neutron scattering
  • interfaces
  • materials research
  • neutron diffraction
  • neutron imaging
  • neutron reflectometry
  • neutron scattering
  • quasielastic neutron scattering
  • small-angle neutron scattering
  • solid-state battery

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