Journal Article

Nanoscale mapping of ion diffusion in a lithium-ion battery cathode

Morozovska, A. N., Dudney, N., Jesse, S., Eliseev, E., Chung, D. W., Adamczyk, L., Balke, N., Kim, Y., García, R. E., Kalinin, S. V.

2010

Overview

The movement of lithium ions into and out of electrodes is central to the operation of lithium-ion batteries. Although this process has been extensively studied at the device level, it remains insufficiently characterized at the nanoscale level of grain clusters, single grains and defects. Here, we probe the spatial variation of lithium-ion diffusion times in the battery-cathode material LiCoO 2 at a resolution of ∼100 nm by using an atomic force microscope to both redistribute lithium ions and measure the resulting cathode deformation. The relationship between diffusion and single grains and grain boundaries is observed, revealing that the diffusion coefficient increases for certain grain orientations and single-grain boundaries. This knowledge provides feedback to improve understanding of the nanoscale mechanisms underpinning lithium-ion battery operation. The diffusion times of lithium ions in the cathode of a lithium-ion battery have been probed at a spatial resolution below 100 nanometres.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 639/301/299/161/891 / 639/925/357/995 / 639/925/929/353 / 639/925/930/543 / Bias / Boundaries / catalysis (heterogeneous), solar (fuels), energy storage (including batteries and capacitors), hydrogen and fuel cells, electrodes - solar, mechanical behavior, charge transport, materials and chemistry by design, synthesis (novel materials) / Chemistry and Materials Science / Diffusion coefficient / Electrodes / Electrons / ENERGY STORAGE / Grain boundaries / Ions / Lithium / Materials Science / NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY / Nanotechnology / Nanotechnology and Microengineering / Topography