Advancing lithium-ion battery with insight from synchrotron characterization

Speaker:  Enyuan Hu, BNL

Program Description:  
The 2019 Nobel prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists who brought lithium-ion battery (LIB) from concept to reality, powering things from smartphones to vehicles. In a LIB cell, lithium ion is transported through the cathode, electrolyte, anode, and the interphases, involving reactions both in the bulk and on the surface. This creates unprecedented challenge for accurate characterization. This talk shows synchrotron radiation can provide powerful tools to gain fundamental understanding of LIB for making improvements. Examples include structural, morphological, and chemical insight gained from synchrotron characterization and how that contributes to battery improvement in terms of safety, energy density, and cyclability.