Open AccessImaging Cycle-Induced Damage of MnO2 Microparticles
Author(s) -
Stevie N Bush,
Juliette Experton,
Anais Teyssendier de La Serve,
Emily P. Johnson,
Charles R. Martin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the electrochemical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 271
eISSN - 1945-7111
pISSN - 0013-4651
DOI - 10.1149/1945-7111/abb7ed
Subject(s) - electrolyte , dissolution , propylene carbonate , electrochemistry , chemical engineering , aqueous solution , materials science , nanoparticle , membrane , dispersity , particle size , degradation (telecommunications) , particle (ecology) , electrode , chemistry , nanotechnology , polymer chemistry , telecommunications , biochemistry , oceanography , geology , computer science , engineering
MnO 2 has been proposed as an electrode material in electrochemical energy storage devices. However, poor cycle life, especially in aqueous electrolytes, remains a detriment to commercialization. Prior studies have suggested a number of explanations for this capacity loss; however, experiments aimed at elucidating the details of the degradation process (es) are sparse. We describe here a microtube-membrane construct that allows for electrodeposition of monodisperse MnO 2 microparticles distributed across the membrane surface, and for subsequent electrochemical cycling of these MnO 2 particles. This allowed for a detailed analysis of the effect of cycling on the MnO 2 , by simply imaging the membrane surface before and after cycling. When an aqueous electrolyte was used, gross changes in particle shape, size and morphology were observed over the course of 500 cycles. Partial dissolution occurred as well. No such changes were observed when the MnO 2 particles were cycled (up to 500 times) in a propylene carbonate electrolyte solution.