Open AccessFast operando X‐ray pair distribution function using the DRIX electrochemical cell
Author(s) -
Diaz-Lopez Maria,
Cutts Geoffrey L.,
Allan Phoebe K.,
Keeble Dean S.,
Ross Allan,
Pralong Valerie,
Spiekermann Georg,
Chater Philip A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of synchrotron radiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 99
ISSN - 1600-5775
DOI - 10.1107/s160057752000747x
Subject(s) - pair distribution function , electrochemistry , scattering , materials science , raman scattering , electrochemical cell , small angle x ray scattering , amorphous solid , cathode , raman spectroscopy , in situ , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrode , crystallography , optics , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , chromatography , organic chemistry
In situ electrochemical cycling combined with total scattering measurements can provide valuable structural information on crystalline, semi‐crystalline and amorphous phases present during (dis)charging of batteries. In situ measurements are particularly challenging for total scattering experiments due to the requirement for low, constant and reproducible backgrounds. Poor cell design can introduce artefacts into the total scattering data or cause inhomogeneous electrochemical cycling, leading to poor data quality or misleading results. This work presents a new cell design optimized to provide good electrochemical performance while performing bulk multi‐scale characterizations based on total scattering and pair distribution function methods, and with potential for techniques such as X‐ray Raman spectroscopy. As an example, the structural changes of a nanostructured high‐capacity cathode with a disordered rock‐salt structure and composition Li 4 Mn 2 O 5 are demonstrated. The results show that there is no contribution to the recorded signal from other cell components, and a very low and consistent contribution from the cell background.