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Synchrotron X‐ray Tomographic Study of a Silicon Electrode Before and After Discharge and the Effect of Cavities on Particle Fracturing
Author(s) -
Zielke Lukas,
Sun Fu,
Markötter Henning,
Hilger André,
Moroni Riko,
Zengerle Roland,
Thiele Simon,
Banhart John,
Manke Ingo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201600219
Subject(s) - anode , electrode , synchrotron , silicon , materials science , particle (ecology) , lithium (medication) , battery (electricity) , electrochemistry , lithium ion battery , nanoparticle , tomography , x ray , composite material , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , optics , chemistry , physics , medicine , power (physics) , oceanography , engineering , quantum mechanics , endocrinology , geology
Silicon (Si) is proposed to be one of the most promising anode materials for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries, but unsatisfactory discharge capacity and inevitable performance deterioration prevent their commercialisation. In situ synchrotron X‐ray tomography is applied to a Si‐composite electrode‐based battery in its pristine and first discharged state and the degradation of the electron‐ and/or ion‐conducting network, as well as degradation of Si particles, is quantitatively investigated. Thus, this study is complementary to previous X‐ray tomographic studies focusing on Si particles only. On the electrode level, the Si particles located in the central part of the electrode primarily experience crack formation; on the particle level, lithiation behaviour is heterogeneous and cavities are formed during electrode preparation and battery operation. The correlation between the electrochemical activities of Si particles and their individual contact with the conducting network is investigated and quantified: Si particles will experience lithiation only under the condition that at least 40 % of their surface is electrically and ionically connected.