Materials – Imaging Atoms for Better Batteries

May 4, 2015 – Lithium-manganese-rich cathodes are twice as energy dense as other commercially available cathodes but degrade quickly during use. Using electron microscopy and theoretical modeling, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers identified substitution patterns in the material’s atomic arrangement. These location-dependent changes rely on nickel swapping with lithium, and can raise or lower energy barriers for lithium-ion diffusion. The findings (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/nn505740v) provide a basis for altering this cost-effective cathode material to optimize battery technology. “It is all about understanding the movement of atoms in the material,” said ORNL researcher Hemant Dixit. “The combination of theory and imaging techniques provides unique tools so that we can understand this behavior and develop the next generation of robust and reliable battery materials.” – written by Ashanti Washington