Electrochemical energy storage systems are needed to power technologies that range from portable electronics to hybrid/electric vehicles and large scale grid storage. With cost, power/energy density, and lifetime requirements highly dependent on the specific application, research in the field has focused on both the improvement of current Li-ion technology as well as the development of new cell chemistries and electrode materials. Running parallel to these developments has been the advancement of analytical techniques that can provide researchers with fundamental mechanistic insights into electrochemical behavior. The objective of this workshop is to showcase state-of-the art capabilities in spectroscopy, diffraction, and microscopy techniques as they apply to electrochemical energy storage systems. Topics will include X-ray and neutron diffraction for determining phase transition behaviors of electrode materials during cycling, the development of new X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) techniques for imaging materials, and the use of operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for determining evolution of oxidation state and local structure. Electron microscopy presentations will focus on development of experimental configurations that allow for in-situ and operando measurements, where both atomic-sale scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) imaging and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) can be used as complimentary probes to determine the structural and chemical evolution of battery materials as a function of electrochemical state. The workshop will gather experts in synchrotron characterization and nanocenters from across the national lab network who can showcase their work to the user community. Discussion will seek to identify best practices and guidelines for in-situ and operando studies, detail the capabilities and limitations of current methods, and propose synergistic experiments that can lead to transformative advances in the field. We anticipate that the workshop will provide great benefit for CFN and NSLS-II users interested in using advanced characterization techniques for energy storage research.
Workshop Organizers: Hong Gan, David Bock, Brookhaven National Laboratory