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Corresponding Author

Yan-bin SHEN(ybshen2017@sinano.ac.cn);
Li-wei CHEN(lwchen2008@sinano.ac.cn)

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid growing in the electric vehicle market has raised higher requirement on the lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) performance towards energy density and safety. However, considering the successful development of LIBs techniques in the past 30 years, there is little room left for improving the LIBs performance on the aspects related to the electrode materials, battery structure design and production processes. It is important to pursue more comprehensive fundamental understanding in the entire system and working principle of LIBs. Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), existing between the electrode material and the electrolyte, has been proved to be an important factor affecting the performance of LIBs. However, at present, researchers both in the academia and industry still do not have full understanding on the SEI. Limited reports on SEI research with high resolution, in operando, and multi-technology combined characterization are available. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), which works based on detecting the interaction force between the AFM probe tip and the measured sample, can in operando characterize the morphological and mechanical properties of SEI at a liquid state with atomic scale resolution. This is very important for the understanding and regulation of SEI in LIBs. In this work, we summarize the application of AFM in investigating the SEI in LIBs in recent years by mainly introducing the work done in our research group in this field. This review will contribute to the understanding and regulation of LIBs interface towards construction of a high-performance LIBs with stable SEI.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

atomic force microscopy, lithium ion battery, interface, morphology, mechanical modulus

Publication Date

2020-02-28

Online Available Date

2020-01-16

Revised Date

2019-11-12

Received Date

2019-06-03

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