Research in the Battery Field Using XRD

From car chases in movies to thrilling F1 races! We cannot deny the allure of automobiles. While maintaining performance and convenience familiar to consumers in the automotive field, transitioning to electric energy and sustainable energy is important. There is no reason for enthusiastic ‘gasoline enthusiasts’ not to like electric cars!

This presents scientists with the challenge of finding ways to enhance battery performance while maintaining safety and sustainability.

XRD: Revealing the value of quality control.

All development or production processes require a method to measure quality, and battery materials are no exception. Predicting battery performance requires knowing what is happening inside the material.

X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a non-destructive and versatile technique that can be used to monitor a wide range of parameters including phase composition, crystallite size and orientation, graphitization, and cation mixing. Let’s take a closer look at how understanding each of these aspects of materials adds value to the work.

The phase composition of battery electrode materials has a significant impact on the electrochemical performance and stability of the battery. XRD analysis accurately identifies whether the reactants have transformed into the desired crystal phase, which helps ensure that the electrode functions correctly. Correct phase composition ensures that the battery has the intended capacity and lifespan. Unintended phases can lead to reduced efficiency and lifespan of the battery.

Meanwhile, crystallite size directly impacts the speed at which lithium ions can move within the battery, affecting both the charging speed and overall capacity of the battery. Especially for electric vehicles, charging speed and capacity are among the most important factors for consumers, so understanding this is crucial! Smaller crystallites can enhance ion transport, improving battery performance, particularly in high-power applications.

A higher orientation index indicates a more aligned crystal structure, which promotes smoother electron flow and denser packing, enhancing energy capacity. For example, the orientation index of graphite particles within electrode coatings affects the battery’s energy density and electrical conductivity.

Synthetic graphite is a common anode material, and the degree of graphitization refers to how well-organized the carbon layers are. Higher graphitization improves electrical conductivity and thermal stability, enabling more efficient charging and more durable and safer batteries. This is also a particularly important consideration in e-mobility, where safety is paramount for both vehicle manufacturers and consumers.

The final example is cation mixing, an effect that battery manufacturers want to avoid. In layered oxide cathodes, cation mixing occurs when transition metal ions occupy lithium ion sites, which can greatly reduce the energy density and cycling stability of a battery. Preventing cation mixing is essential to maintaining the integrity of the electrode crystal structure. Therefore, XRD is used to detect and quantify the degree of cation mixing so it can be corrected as soon as possible.

In-depth analysis, quick results

Understanding these parameters can have a significant impact on operations, helping to avoid out-of-spec products and waste, and improve quality and performance. While full-sized laboratory equipment is widely used for other purposes in battery manufacturing, compact instruments like Aeris XRD offer an ideal solution for the fast on-site analysis needed in this case. Instead of waiting for lab results (which could lead to out-of-spec production or downtime), Aeris provides results in just a few minutes at a similar accuracy level.

So, whether you’re researching next-generation innovation technology or rapidly producing within Gigafactory 1, don’t overlook the critical value of XRD in the battery process.

Check out our comprehensive battery material analysis equipment here.

Learn more about Aeris, the world’s first compact XRD, here.