Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Failure Analysis of Batteries Using Synchrotron-based Hard X-ray Microtomography
Published on: August 26, 2015
Origin and hysteresis of lithium compositional spatiodynamics within battery primary particles
Jongwoo Lim1, Yiyang Li2, Daan Hein Alsem3
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Stanford Institute for Materials & Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
Abstract:
The kinetics and uniformity of ion insertion reactions at the solid-liquid interface govern the rate capability and lifetime, respectively, of electrochemical devices such as Li-ion batteries. Using an operando x-ray microscopy platform that maps the dynamics of the Li composition and insertion rate in Li(x)FePO4, we found that nanoscale spatial variations in rate and in composition control the lithiation pathway at the subparticle length scale. Specifically, spatial variations in the insertion rate constant lead to the formation of nonuniform domains, and the composition dependence of the rate constant amplifies nonuniformities during delithiation but suppresses them during lithiation, and moreover stabilizes the solid solution during lithiation. This coupling of lithium composition and surface reaction rates controls the kinetics and uniformity during electrochemical ion insertion.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Batteries and Fuel Cells
The Electrical Double Layer
Weak Acid Solutions
Trends in Lattice Energy: Ion Size and Charge
Electrogravimetric Analysis: Overview
To test the completeness of the...
Resting Potential Decay
At rest, the K+ is the main ion that moves across the membrane...

