Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory demonstrated center-of-mass scanning transmission electron microscopy to observe lithium along with heavier elements in battery materials at atomic resolution. Credit: Chad Malone/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers demonstrated an electron microscopy technique for imaging lithium in energy storage materials, such as lithium ion batteries, at the atomic scale.
The properties of energy storage materials stem directly from their atomic structures, which are only visible using electron microscopy. Today's advanced electron microscopes are able to image heavy elements at atomic resolution. One challenge is simultaneously observing light elements including lithium, sodium and potassium, which are essential for modern batteries.
Scientists at ORNL’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences used “center-of-mass” scanning transmission electron microscopy, or CoM-STEM, to observe lithium along with heavier elements in battery materials at atomic resolution.
“Imaging light and heavy elements together is important for advancing energy storage materials, but many techniques require significant expertise or yield data that are difficult to interpret,” said ORNL’s Michael Zachman. “CoM-STEM is a straightforward technique that will now be more accessible across the research community.”
