Superalloys to the Rescue
Superalloys, combine two ore more elements of which one is Ni, Co, or Fe, and provide strength, toughness, and durability at high temps.
Surface Chemistry and Composition in Battery Manufacturing
From cell phones to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are part of our daily lives. We rely on their performance and safety to power the majority of consumer electronics. With increasing demands for higher battery performance and improved safety, a better understanding of the factors affecting performance, life cycle and possible failure mechanisms is essential.
In our blog, Understanding Lithium-Ion Batteries and Why They Fail, we talk about how EAG assists in achieving clean and consistent manufacturing using our trace elemental analysis techniques such as Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GDMS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optimal Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). In this blog, we’ll be focusing on a few of our materials characterization techniques that can help identify surface chemistry and composition of the materials used to develop new batteries.
Measuring Chemical State
Measuring the chemical state of the battery components such as the cathode, anode, separator, electrolyte, contact layers and additives, at various stages of cycling, provides vital information about the electrochemical processes that occur during battery use. EAG offers elemental and molecular analyses using a number of different analytical tools to address this need.
The surface chemistry of an electrode can change after battery cycling. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) is a commonly used technique for this type of investigation. XPS can help look at comparisons between control and treated samples.
Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) has the unique ability of analyzing both organic and inorganic components. This is helpful in a full investigation of decomposition, presence of impurities, or any other surface changes during cycling.
Auger Electron Spectroscopy allows elemental analysis using an electron beam focused down to ~10-20 nm, enabling specific regions of interest on electrode particles to be analyzed. This surface analysis technique can show the presence of species characteristic of the anode, cathode and electrolyte.
How can we help?
A customer discovered a change in the surface of their cathode after cycling. TOF-SIMS was used to investigate particles found on the surface. Molecular species of interest were identified on the surface of a cathode that did not originate there. Our TOF-SIMS experts were able to provide our customers with a better understanding of the lateral chemical distribution of species of interest at various stages of cycling.
These are just a few of our materials characterization techniques that can help to better understand battery components and improve performance, reliability and safety. At Eurofins EAG, our scientists have helped the battery industry with a wide range of materials characterization services for supply chain, materials R&D, and failure analysis. We work closely with our clients to help identify and solve problems. As the battery industry continues to evolve, Eurofins EAG Laboratories is your partner to bring your product to market faster and more efficiently.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you to better understand your battery materials and processes.
Related Resources
- Webinar: Application of Electron Microscopy to Lithium Ion Batteries
- Webinar: Chemical Analysis of Materials Used in Energy Storage Devices
- Application Note: Battery Technology
- Blog: Understanding Lithium-Ion Batteries and Why They Fail
- Blog: Understanding Energy Density in Batteries
- Service: Battery Materials Analysis
- Technique: Auger
- Technique: TOF-SIMS
- Technique: XPS
- Industry: Energy
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