Three dimensional localization of nanoscale battery reactions using soft X-ray tomography

TL;DR

This paper introduces soft X-ray ptychographic tomography, enabling 3D chemical state imaging of nanoscale battery materials with 11-nm resolution, revealing intra-particle heterogeneity and reaction points.

Contribution

Development of a 3D chemical imaging technique for nanoscale battery electrodes using soft X-ray ptychographic tomography, providing unprecedented spatial and chemical resolution.

Findings

Resolved phase boundaries within individual nano-particles.

Identified multiple reaction points and intra-particle heterogeneity.

Highlighted the importance of electrical connectivity in battery performance.

Abstract

Battery function is determined by the efficiency and reversibility of the electrochemical phase transformations at solid electrodes. The microscopic tools available to study the chemical states of matter with the required spatial resolution and chemical specificity are intrinsically limited when studying complex architectures by their reliance on two dimensional projections of thick material. Here, we report the development of soft X-ray ptychographic tomography, which resolves chemical states in three dimensions at 11-nm spatial resolution. We study an ensemble of nano-plates of lithium iron phosphate (LixFePO4) extracted from a battery electrode at 50% state of charge. Using a set of nanoscale tomograms, we quantify the electrochemical state and resolve phase boundaries throughout the volume of individual nano-particles. These observations reveal multiple reaction points and intra-particle heterogeneity that highlights the importance of electrical connectivity, providing novel insight to the design of the next generation of high-performance devices.