Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary Batteries

The rapid advancement of integrated circuits and artificial intelligence has accelerated the proliferation of smart devices, driving the demand for high‐performance lithium‐based secondary batteries (LSBs). Despite notable technological advancements, LSBs continue to face significant challenges, par...

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Main Authors: Dengyan Hu, Xiaozhi Zhan, Xiaofei Wang, Haibin Lin, Lei Gao, Haoran Tu, Jinlong Zhu, Tao Zhu, Songbai Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-06-01
Series:Small Structures
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400542
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author Dengyan Hu
Xiaozhi Zhan
Xiaofei Wang
Haibin Lin
Lei Gao
Haoran Tu
Jinlong Zhu
Tao Zhu
Songbai Han
author_facet Dengyan Hu
Xiaozhi Zhan
Xiaofei Wang
Haibin Lin
Lei Gao
Haoran Tu
Jinlong Zhu
Tao Zhu
Songbai Han
author_sort Dengyan Hu
collection DOAJ
description The rapid advancement of integrated circuits and artificial intelligence has accelerated the proliferation of smart devices, driving the demand for high‐performance lithium‐based secondary batteries (LSBs). Despite notable technological advancements, LSBs continue to face significant challenges, particularly regarding cycle life, power density, specific capacity, and long‐term stability. To optimize these batteries, advanced analytical techniques are crucial for probing fundamental processes such as lithium‐ion migration, electrode material transformations, and solid electrolyte interphase evolution. While techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray reflectometry offer valuable insights into surface morphology and structural properties, their sensitivity limitations to lighter elements like lithium and hydrogen hinder comprehensive analysis. In contrast, neutron reflectometry (NR) provides a distinct advantage, offering nondestructive, lithium‐sensitive, and deeply penetrating insights into the internal dynamics of LSBs. In situ NR facilitates real‐time monitoring of structural transformations at the electrode/electrolyte interface and lithium distribution during cycling, while enabling the quantification of chemical composition under operational conditions. This review examines the advantages of NR over conventional techniques, evaluates its strengths and limitations, and surveys recent applications of NR in LSB research. The potential of NR in advancing the development of high‐performance LSB technologies is also discussed.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2688-4062
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
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series Small Structures
spelling doaj-art-aca86ffe340a4b2193136ba550e5fdac2025-08-20T03:26:00ZengWiley-VCHSmall Structures2688-40622025-06-0166n/an/a10.1002/sstr.202400542Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary BatteriesDengyan Hu0Xiaozhi Zhan1Xiaofei Wang2Haibin Lin3Lei Gao4Haoran Tu5Jinlong Zhu6Tao Zhu7Songbai Han8Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Solid State Batteries Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Joint Laboratory for Photonic‐Thermal‐Electrical Energy Materials and Devices Institute of Major Scientific Facilities for New Materials Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 P. R. ChinaSpallation Neutron Source Science Center Dongguan 523803 P. R. ChinaShenzhen Key Laboratory of Solid State Batteries Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Joint Laboratory for Photonic‐Thermal‐Electrical Energy Materials and Devices Institute of Major Scientific Facilities for New Materials Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 P. R. ChinaShenzhen Key Laboratory of Solid State Batteries Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Joint Laboratory for Photonic‐Thermal‐Electrical Energy Materials and Devices Institute of Major Scientific Facilities for New Materials Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 P. R. ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. ChinaCenter for Neutron Scattering and Advanced Light Sources (CNALS) Dongguan University of Technology Dongguan 523808 P. R. ChinaShenzhen Key Laboratory of Solid State Batteries Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Joint Laboratory for Photonic‐Thermal‐Electrical Energy Materials and Devices Institute of Major Scientific Facilities for New Materials Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 P. R. ChinaSpallation Neutron Source Science Center Dongguan 523803 P. R. ChinaShenzhen Key Laboratory of Solid State Batteries Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Joint Laboratory for Photonic‐Thermal‐Electrical Energy Materials and Devices Institute of Major Scientific Facilities for New Materials Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 P. R. ChinaThe rapid advancement of integrated circuits and artificial intelligence has accelerated the proliferation of smart devices, driving the demand for high‐performance lithium‐based secondary batteries (LSBs). Despite notable technological advancements, LSBs continue to face significant challenges, particularly regarding cycle life, power density, specific capacity, and long‐term stability. To optimize these batteries, advanced analytical techniques are crucial for probing fundamental processes such as lithium‐ion migration, electrode material transformations, and solid electrolyte interphase evolution. While techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray reflectometry offer valuable insights into surface morphology and structural properties, their sensitivity limitations to lighter elements like lithium and hydrogen hinder comprehensive analysis. In contrast, neutron reflectometry (NR) provides a distinct advantage, offering nondestructive, lithium‐sensitive, and deeply penetrating insights into the internal dynamics of LSBs. In situ NR facilitates real‐time monitoring of structural transformations at the electrode/electrolyte interface and lithium distribution during cycling, while enabling the quantification of chemical composition under operational conditions. This review examines the advantages of NR over conventional techniques, evaluates its strengths and limitations, and surveys recent applications of NR in LSB research. The potential of NR in advancing the development of high‐performance LSB technologies is also discussed.https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400542electrodeselectrolytesinterfaceslithium batteriesneutron reflection
spellingShingle Dengyan Hu
Xiaozhi Zhan
Xiaofei Wang
Haibin Lin
Lei Gao
Haoran Tu
Jinlong Zhu
Tao Zhu
Songbai Han
Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary Batteries
Small Structures
electrodes
electrolytes
interfaces
lithium batteries
neutron reflection
title Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary Batteries
title_full Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary Batteries
title_fullStr Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary Batteries
title_full_unstemmed Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary Batteries
title_short Neutron Reflectometry of Lithium‐Based Secondary Batteries
title_sort neutron reflectometry of lithium based secondary batteries
topic electrodes
electrolytes
interfaces
lithium batteries
neutron reflection
url https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400542
work_keys_str_mv AT dengyanhu neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT xiaozhizhan neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT xiaofeiwang neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT haibinlin neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT leigao neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT haorantu neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT jinlongzhu neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT taozhu neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries
AT songbaihan neutronreflectometryoflithiumbasedsecondarybatteries