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 LiC 24 phase was found during charge at 1C rate. Approximately 75 mol. % of the graphite converts to LiC 6 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.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 747 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Volume | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2012 |
Funding
This research was sponsored by the SEED Money Fund of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the US Department of Energy. The neutron diffraction work was carried out at the Spallation Neutron Source, which is sponsored by the US Department of Energy at ORNL. LC and CDL are supported by US Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division. The authors thank Drs. E. A. Payzant and B. R. Powell for critical reading of the manuscript.
Funders | Funder number |
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US Department of Energy | |
UT-Battelle | |
Basic Energy Sciences | |
Oak Ridge National Laboratory | |
Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering |