TEM sample preparation of microsized LiMn₂O₄ powder using an ion slicer

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is crucial for analyzing battery materials.
• Microsized powders from lithium-ion batteries present challenges for TEM sample preparation.
• Artefacts can compromise the reliability of TEM analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an effective method for preparing TEM samples from microsized lithium-ion battery powders.
• To maintain the intrinsic structure of battery materials during sample preparation.
• To enable high-resolution scanning TEM (STEM) analysis with aberration correction.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ion slicer milling for precise thinning of battery powder samples.
• Employed argon-ion milling techniques to optimize specimen quality.
• Applied Cs-corrected STEM for high-resolution imaging and crystal integrity investigations.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared TEM-transparent specimens from microsized lithium-ion battery powders.
• Minimized structural distortion and artefacts during the sample preparation process.
• Achieved high-resolution STEM observations, revealing crystal integrity.

Conclusions:

• Ion slicer milling is an effective technique for preparing TEM samples of battery materials.
• The developed method ensures specimen integrity for advanced electron microscopy.
• This approach enhances the reliability of TEM analysis for lithium-ion battery research.