headerSearch form

Changing the World through Creative Research

In-situ Observation of Lithium Metal Plating into Sulfur-based Solid Electrolyte for All-solid-state Batteries

Journal
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Date
2019.05.13
Abstract
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) utilizing solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are attracting a good deal of interest as a promising candidate to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium ion batteries (LIBs), especially safety problems. For the real time observations of morphological and chemical phenomena which happen in ASSBs during charging and discharging cycles, it is crucial to develop operando or in-situ microscopic and spectroscopic measurement techniques. Here, we develop the in-situ Auger electron microscopy and spectroscopy for the real time study on the various phenomena in ASSBs which include pelletized argyrodite (Li6PS5Cl; LiPS) SSEs. The volume expansion/contraction of Li metal anode by the Li injection/extraction is observed during charge/discharge process. The lithium movement into the Li metal anode is strongly dependent on the force applied to press the sample during charging and charging cycles. On the sample position with excessively strong local pressure, a superabundant amount of Li metal is moved to the anode and the irreversible growth of Li metal which can cause a critical failure in ASSBs is observed. In contrast, the volume expansion of Li metal anode is negligible on the sample position without pressurizing, which can result in poor capacity performance in ASSBs. This novel in-situ measurement technique can be a useful tool for the real time analysis of various phenomena in ASSBs.
Reference
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 13650
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9ta02614b