(Edward G. Acheson Award Address) Investigation of Batteries over Multiple and Length and Time Scales

Abstract

Emerging applications demand expanded function of numerous types of batteries ranging from high energy density lithium batteries to large-scale low-cost energy storage. However, many considerations are common to these battery types including complex phase transitions of materials, kinetics of ion transport and electron transfer, electrode-electrolyte interfacial reactions, and degradation as a function of time or cycle life. Until recently, most interrogation approaches of batteries were static, unable to track mechanisms arising from dynamic battery (dis)charge behavior and often involved the recovery of parts removed from the battery. The advent of in situ and operando approaches over multiple length scales provides the ability to gain insight into dynamic electrochemical processes and failure mechanisms of energy storage systems. Further, probes of systems under both spatial and time dimensions over several orders of magnitude are yielding unprecedented information regarding the mechanistic details. This presentation will provide examples of recent in-situ and operando results and comment on future directions for gaining full insight into batteries as guidance for future innovation.