In situ study of Li-ions diffusion and deformation in Li-rich cathode materials by using scanning probe microscopy techniques

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 50; no. 31; pp. 313001 - 313012
• Main Authors: Zeng, Kaiyang, Li, Tao, Tian, Tian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 09.08.2017
• Subjects: characterization; conductive AFM; electrochemical strain microscopy; Li-rich cathode materials; nanoparticles; scanning probe microscopy
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aa7571

In this paper, the scanning probe microscopy (SPM) based techniques, namely, conductive-AFM, electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM) and AM-FM (amplitude modulation-frequency modulation) techniques, are used to in situ characterize the changes in topography, conductivity and elastic properties of Li-rich layered oxide cathode (Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2) materials, in the form of nanoparticles, when subject to the external electric field. Nanoparticles are the basic building blocks for composite cathode in a Li-ion rechargeable battery. Characterization of the structure and electrochemical properties of the nanoparticles is very important to understand the performance and reliability of the battery materials and devices. In this study, the conductivity, deformation and mechanical properties of the Li-rich oxide nanoparticles under different polarities of biases are studied using the above-mentioned SPM techniques. This information can be correlated with the Li+-ion diffusion and migration in the particles under external electrical field. The results also confirm that the SPM techniques are ideal tools to study the changes in various properties of electrode materials at nano- to micro-scales during or after the 'simulated' battery operation conditions. These techniques can also be used to in situ characterize the electrochemical performances of other energy storage materials, especially in the form of the nanoparticles.