Multiscale characterization of a lithium/sulfur battery by coupling operando X-ray tomography and spatially-resolved...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries offer high theoretical specific capacity, positioning them as a key alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
• Understanding electrode degradation is critical for advancing Li/S battery technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the chemical and morphological changes in Li/S battery electrodes during cycling.
• To correlate the state of active materials with electrochemical behavior under operational conditions.

Main Methods:

• Coupling of operando spatially resolved X-ray diffraction and absorption tomography.
• In-situ characterization of Li/S cells during electrochemical cycling.

Main Results:

• Observed highly heterogeneous lithium stripping and plating behavior at the anode.
• Tracked the evolution of sulfur distribution within the cathode depth during cycling.
• Correlated material state changes with electrochemical performance to identify degradation phenomena.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a deeper understanding of performance-limiting degradation mechanisms in Li/S batteries.
• Detailed insights into anode and cathode material evolution during cycling are established.
• This work paves the way for designing more stable and efficient Li/S battery systems.