Sample environment for operando solid-state battery characterization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• All-solid-state batteries offer superior electrical energy storage potential compared to current technologies.
• In situ and operando studies are crucial for understanding solid-state battery performance and degradation mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel sample environment, the Aarhus pressure temperature operando X-ray (APTOX) cell, for comprehensive solid-state battery investigations.
• To enable simultaneous collection of X-ray diffraction and electrochemical data under controlled temperature and stack pressure.

Main Methods:

• Development of the APTOX cell with a 35° 2θ opening for high-quality powder X-ray diffraction (XRD).
• Introduction of two APTOX variants: APTOX-Pmon for pressure monitoring and APTOX-Spring for constant pressure application.
• Compatibility with various X-ray window configurations for optimized measurements.
• Demonstration using both in-house and synchrotron X-ray sources (MAX IV).

Main Results:

• The APTOX cell facilitates detailed analysis of structural changes during solid-state battery cycling.
• High-quality operando XRD data were successfully obtained, revealing insights into battery material behavior.
• The system demonstrated versatility across different experimental setups and conditions.

Conclusions:

• The APTOX cell is a valuable tool for advancing the understanding and development of solid-state batteries.
• This integrated approach allows for deeper insights into the complex interplay of structural, electrochemical, and mechanical properties.
• The presented methodology supports the optimization of future high-performance energy storage devices.