Three-Dimensional Analysis for LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 Composite Cathode of All-Solid-State Batteries By X-Ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Sakka Yuya , Uno Takuma , Shimizu Takeshi , Orikasa Yuki 
Published: July 2021

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) using inorganic solid electrolytes are expected to achieve high safety and high energy density as alternatives to conventional lithium-ion batteries using liquid electrolytes. However, in many cases, rate capability of ASSBs is poor compared with that of the conventional liquid system. This is because the contact interface between solid active materials and solid electrolyte is insufficient, resulting in high resistance for electrochemical properties. The solid electrode-electrolyte interface in ASSBs is related to the morphological structure such as porosity and mixed state. It has been confirmed that pressurization reduces the grain boundaries of solid electrolytes and improves conductivity1). From this improvement, it is generally known that applying high pressure when assembling ASSBs improves the contact area of the solid-solid interface, including electrode and electrolyte interface. However, the effect of pressure on particle-particle contact and battery performance is not understood enough. In this study, we investigated the effect of pressure-induced three-dimensional structure on the electrochemical properties of ASSBs by using X-ray computed tomography (CT).

ASSBs were prepared at various stack pressures using a composite cathode consisting of oxide active materials LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM), sulfide solid electrolyte Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS), and acetylene black. Electrochemical properties were investigated in ASSBs of NCM composite cathode|LGPS solid-electrolyte|In-Li anode. The charge–discharge measurements were performed using various stack pressure, which indicates that the capacity increases as the stack pressure increases. To analyze the factors behind this result in terms of the internal structure of the ASSBs, we performed X-ray CT with synchrotron radiation at 20 keV using a homemade operando measurement cell that electrode diameter is 1 mm. This measurement system allows us to analyze the three-dimensional structure of composite cathode during monitoring applied pressure, electrochemical measurements, and X-ray CT measurements. From the X-ray CT data, we succeeded in quantifying the changes in the porosity of the composite cathode and the contact state between the active material and electrolytes by changing the pressure. Quantitative analysis revealed that the porosity and contact state correlate with the charge–discharge properties. Additionally, CT analysis revealed that the voids are preferentially presented near active materials and these voids spread the horizontal direction (not pressurization direction), resulting in different porosities of composite cathode and solid electrolyte layer. Since it was confirmed that voids remained in the vicinity of the active material even when the pressurization was continued, controlling these voids decreases the voids of the entire cathode layer. Pressure dependencies on AC impedance during X-ray CT measurements showed that the apparent conductivity of ASSBs increases linearly as the confinement stack pressure increases. This result is caused by suggesting that the decrease in porosity and tortuosity in cathode layer, which is detected by CT analysis. Additionally, date of tortuosity shows over-pressurization may bypass Lithium conduction path. The improved internal structure such as contact state due to pressurization enhances the apparent conductivity and charged-discharge characteristics of ASSBs. With the latest synchrotron radiation measurement technology and image processing technology, high-precision analysis has become possible.

1) Jean-Marie Doux, Yangyuchen Yang, Darren H. S. Tan, Han Nguyen, Erik A. Wu, a Xuefeng Wang, Abhik Banerjeea and Ying Shirley Meng, J. Mater. Chem. A, 8, 5049, (2020).