Chemists at New York University have developed a method for generating 3-D views of the innards of a lithium battery.
Image courtesy of NYU’s Jerschow Lab.
“One particular challenge we wanted to solve was to make the measurements 3D and sufficiently fast, so that they could be done during the battery-charging cycle,” explains NYU Chemistry Professor Alexej Jerschow, the paper’s senior author. “This was made possible by using intrinsic amplification processes, which allow one to measure small features within the cell to diagnose common battery failure mechanisms. We believe these methods could become important techniques for the development of better batteries.”
The work, described in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focuses on rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are used in cell phones, electric cars, laptops, and many other electronics. Many see lithium metal as a promising, highly efficient electrode material, which could boost performance and reduce battery weight. However, during battery recharging it builds up deposits—or “dendrites”— that can cause performance loss and safety concerns, including fires and explosions. Therefore, monitoring the growth of dendrites is crucial to producing high-performance batteries with this material.
My Arts Editor cleaned up the image slightly.
Jerschow Lab image, modified by Deb White.
(h/t Christine Lepisto @ Treehugger.com)
