Nutzerforschung an BESSY II: Graphitelektroden für wiederaufladbare Batterien untersucht

Wiederaufladbare Graphit-Dual-Ionen-Batterien sind preisgünstig und leistungsstark. Ein Team von der Technischen Universität Berlin hat an der EDDI Beamline von BESSY II untersucht, wie sich während des Zyklierens (operando) die Morphologie der Graphit-Elektroden reversibel verändert. Die 3D-Röntgentomographieaufnahmen kombiniert mit simultaner Diffraktion erlauben nun eine präzise Auswertung der Prozesse, insbesondere von Volumenveränderungen der Elektroden. Dies kann dazu beitragen, Graphitelektroden weiter zu optimieren.

Published in Advanced Functional Materials (2020); Simultaneous X‐Ray Diffraction and Tomography Operando Investigation of Aluminum/Graphite Batteries; Giuseppe Antonio Elia, Giorgia Greco, Paul Hans Kamm, Francisco García‐Moreno, Simone Raoux, Robert Hahn

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202003913

Abstract: Rechargeable graphite dual‐ion batteries are extremely appealing for grid‐level stationary storage of electricity, thanks to the low‐cost and high‐performance metrics, such as high‐power density, energy efficiency, long cycling life, and good energy density. An in‐depth understanding of the anion intercalation mechanism in graphite is fundamental for the design of highly efficient systems. In this work, a comparison is presented between pyrolytic (PG) and natural (NG) graphite as positive electrode materials in rechargeable aluminum batteries, employing an ionic liquid electrolyte. The two systems are characterized by operando synchrotron energy‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction and time‐resolved computed tomography simultaneously, establishing a powerful characterization methodology, which can also be applied more in general to carbon‐based energy‐related materials. A more in‐depth insight into the AlCl₄⁻/graphite intercalation mechanism is obtained, evidencing a mixed‐staged region in the initial phase and a two‐staged region in the second phase. Moreover, strain analysis suggests a correlation between the irreversibility of the PG electrode and the increase of the inhomogenous strain. Finally, the imaging analysis reveals the influence of graphite morphology in the electrode volume expansion upon cycling.