Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS March Meeting 2022
Volume 67, Number 3
Monday–Friday, March 14–18, 2022; Chicago
Session Q19: Structure and Dynamics of Ion-Containing Polymers I
3:00 PM–5:48 PM,
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Room: McCormick Place W-185A
Sponsoring
Unit:
DPOLY
Chair: Lisa Hall, Ohio State University
Abstract: Q19.00004 : Using in situ SAXS to Investigate Salt Concentration Gradients, Morphological Changes, and Cell Failure Mechanisms in Block Copolymer Electrolytes at the Limiting Current*
4:00 PM–4:12 PM
Presenter:
Lorena S Grundy
(University of California, Berkeley)
Authors:
Lorena S Grundy
(University of California, Berkeley)
Michael D Galluzzo
(University of California, Berkeley)
Christopher J Takacs
(SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)
Nitash P Balsara
(University of California, Berkeley)
As electrochemical cells are charged and discharged, salt concentration gradients develop. Characterizing these gradients is valuable, as when the salt concentration reaches zero at any point, the cell fails. While theoretical predictions exist, they are difficult to validate experimentally. In this work, we use in situ x-ray transmission measurements to directly measure salt concentration as a function of both position and time as a cell approaches its limiting current and eventually fails.
We find that cells fail at lower currents than predicted by the theory, suggesting that there is a failure mechanism for which current theoretical models do not account. To resolve this, we use in situ small-angle x-ray scattering to investigate block copolymer morphology during polarization. We observe significant structural changes, including transitions between spherical and cylindrical morphologies, as local salt concentration evolves, and quantify the strain exerted by expanding and contracting grains. Based on this, we propose a new, structural mechanism for cell failure and limiting current.
*Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR)
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