Measurement of three-dimensional microstructure in a LiCoO2 positive electrode

James R. Wilson; J. Scott Cronin; Scott A. Barnett; Stephen J. Harris

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.04.066

Measurement of three-dimensional microstructure in a LiCoO₂ positive electrode

James R. Wilson, J. Scott Cronin, Scott A. Barnett, Stephen J. Harris

Materials Science and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

205 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this work we elucidate the 3D microstructure of the LiCoO₂ phase in a fresh commercial Li-ion battery positive electrode using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope. The particles have a highly irregular shape that includes significant internal cracking. These cracks provide a higher surface area for Li charge transfer, and they provide alternate pathways for Li transport within particles. In addition, the cracks would substantially alter the stress distributions within particles during Li-insertion and make the particles more susceptible to fracture. The particles were typically made up of multiple grains whose boundaries may also affect intraparticle Li-ion transport and fracture strength. While the particles do contact each other, the cross-sectional area of contact is quite small, emphasizing the importance of binder and conductive carbon for providing structural integrity to the electrode.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3443-3447
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Power Sources
Volume	196
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.04.066
State	Published - Apr 1 2011

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Science Foundation Ceramics program through grant DMR-0907639 (Northwestern Univ.) and the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN). The FIB–SEM (Zeiss) was accomplished at the Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research at Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Laboratory operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357 by UChicago Argonne, LLC. The FIB-SEM (FEI) was performed in the EPIC facility of NUANCE Center at Northwestern University. NUANCE Center is supported by NSF-NSEC, NSF-MRSEC, Keck Foundation, the State of Illinois, and Northwestern University.

Keywords

Electrodes
Focused ion beam (FIB) tomography
LiCoO
Lithium-ion batteries
Three-dimensional (3D) microstructure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.04.066

Cite this

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title = "Measurement of three-dimensional microstructure in a LiCoO2 positive electrode",

abstract = "In this work we elucidate the 3D microstructure of the LiCoO2 phase in a fresh commercial Li-ion battery positive electrode using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope. The particles have a highly irregular shape that includes significant internal cracking. These cracks provide a higher surface area for Li charge transfer, and they provide alternate pathways for Li transport within particles. In addition, the cracks would substantially alter the stress distributions within particles during Li-insertion and make the particles more susceptible to fracture. The particles were typically made up of multiple grains whose boundaries may also affect intraparticle Li-ion transport and fracture strength. While the particles do contact each other, the cross-sectional area of contact is quite small, emphasizing the importance of binder and conductive carbon for providing structural integrity to the electrode.",

keywords = "Electrodes, Focused ion beam (FIB) tomography, LiCoO, Lithium-ion batteries, Three-dimensional (3D) microstructure",

author = "Wilson, {James R.} and Cronin, {J. Scott} and Barnett, {Scott A.} and Harris, {Stephen J.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Science Foundation Ceramics program through grant DMR-0907639 (Northwestern Univ.) and the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN). The FIB–SEM (Zeiss) was accomplished at the Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research at Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Laboratory operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357 by UChicago Argonne, LLC. The FIB-SEM (FEI) was performed in the EPIC facility of NUANCE Center at Northwestern University. NUANCE Center is supported by NSF-NSEC, NSF-MRSEC, Keck Foundation, the State of Illinois, and Northwestern University. ",

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N2 - In this work we elucidate the 3D microstructure of the LiCoO2 phase in a fresh commercial Li-ion battery positive electrode using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope. The particles have a highly irregular shape that includes significant internal cracking. These cracks provide a higher surface area for Li charge transfer, and they provide alternate pathways for Li transport within particles. In addition, the cracks would substantially alter the stress distributions within particles during Li-insertion and make the particles more susceptible to fracture. The particles were typically made up of multiple grains whose boundaries may also affect intraparticle Li-ion transport and fracture strength. While the particles do contact each other, the cross-sectional area of contact is quite small, emphasizing the importance of binder and conductive carbon for providing structural integrity to the electrode.

AB - In this work we elucidate the 3D microstructure of the LiCoO2 phase in a fresh commercial Li-ion battery positive electrode using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope. The particles have a highly irregular shape that includes significant internal cracking. These cracks provide a higher surface area for Li charge transfer, and they provide alternate pathways for Li transport within particles. In addition, the cracks would substantially alter the stress distributions within particles during Li-insertion and make the particles more susceptible to fracture. The particles were typically made up of multiple grains whose boundaries may also affect intraparticle Li-ion transport and fracture strength. While the particles do contact each other, the cross-sectional area of contact is quite small, emphasizing the importance of binder and conductive carbon for providing structural integrity to the electrode.

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