Enabling 3D imaging of operating batteries*

Significant advances have been made in operando X-ray microscopy of electrochemical energy storage systems like Li-ion batteries; however, 3D imaging remains challenging. Standard computed tomography techniques do not work well for samples with flat, planer geometries, such as battery pouch cells, resulting in reconstructed volumes with imaging artifacts and poor contrast. Additionally, cell geometries that are modified to accommodate the sample restrictions of tomography do not perform well under electrochemical cycling or survive in ambient conditions for more than a few days. At SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, we are developing multiscale computed laminography at two imaging instruments at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource. With the high brightness of a synchrotron, we will image the morphological changes within the anode and cathode during battery cycling. With micron scale resolutions, we can capture the behavior of hundreds of particles, and, similarly, with nanometer scale resolution, the single-particle changes will be imaged. For this presentation, I will provide an overview of the project and our latest results on micron scale laminography on pouch cell batteries.