NSRRC Activity Report 2023

E fficient storage and transportation of energy are essential for addressing the energy crisis caused by the depletion of fossil fuels. The ongoing research and development in battery technology, as well as other alternative energy storage solutions, hold the promise of providing sustainable and reliable energy sources for the future. Researchers are working on improving battery technology to address the challenge of energy storage and transportation. The current focus is on developing batteries that have higher energy densities, longer lifespans, and faster charging capabilities. The synchrotron radiation facility provides several powerful techniques such as X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission (XPS) spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), X-ray Nanodiffraction (XND), and transmission X-ray microscope (TXM) to study the mechanism of electrode materials during charge/discharge process including Li-battery, Na-battery, S-battery and all solid state battery. The characteristic and advantage of those experimental technique are: XAFS is used to probe the local environment of specific elements, providing information about the coordination, oxidation state, and bonding of those elements. In battery research, XAFS can be used to study the changes in the local structure of electrode materials during charge/discharge cycles, providing insights into the mechanism of electrochemical reactions and degradation processes. XPS is a surface-sensitive technique that can provide information about the chemical composition and electronic states of materials. It works by measuring the kinetic energy of electrons emitted from the sample when it is bombarded with X-rays. In battery research, XPS can be used to study the surface chemistry of electrode materials, providing insights into the surface reactions and degradation processes. SAXS is a technique that can provide information about the size, shape, and distribution of nanoparticles in a material. It works by measuring the scattering of X-rays by the sample at small angles, which is sensitive to the size and shape of nanoparticles. In battery research, SAXS can be used to study the formation and evolution of nanoparticles during electrode fabrication and charge/discharge cycles. XMCD provides material magnetic property insights by measuring the difference in X-ray absorption between left- and right-circularly polarized X-rays, which is sensitive to the magnetic moment of the sample. In battery research, XMCD can be used to study the magnetic properties of electrode materials, revealing its role in electrochemical reactions and degradation. XND, a nanoscale technique, provides crystal structure and strain information via X-ray diffraction. It works by measuring the diffraction of X-rays by the sample, which is sensitive to the crystal structure and lattice parameters. In battery research, XND can be used to study the changes in crystal structure and strain during charge/discharge cycles, offering insights into the mechanism of electrochemical reactions and degradation processes. TXM, a type of X-ray microscopy, provides spatial resolutions down to 60 nm by focusing an X-ray beam using a zone plate. In battery research, TXM obtains morphological and chemical structural information about the electrode inside the battery at a scale of tens of nanometers, offering insights into material, electrolyte, and additive influences on battery performance. The following reports deeply present how these technologies can be used in battery research. (by Chih-Wen Pao) Energy Science