IN SITU NANO-TOMOGRAPHY TO UNRAVEL THE 3D MORPHOLOGY EVOLUTION AND LITHIATION PROCESS OF NOVEL SILICON/GRAPHITE ANODES FOR LI-ION BATTERIES

We want to witness continuously the dynamical morphological degradation and lithiation process in next generation Si (Gen2-Si) -composite anode lithium-ion cells with cycling. Expected results are: (i) Quantification of the morphological evolution with cycling to trigger design guidelines for novel industrial and scientific relevant Gen2-Si/graphite anode materials. (ii) Application of a combined approach comprising in situ 3D nano-synchrotron tomography, advanced image analysis workflow and FE-modelling. (iii) Understanding of the relation between active material and the proximate morphology, to provide a quantified insight to the lithiation process. (iv) Quantify the adhesion formation with cycling at the active material/protective coating-carbon binder domain interface, (v) Quantification of the spatial tortuosity in context to the lithium transport characteristic for different SOCs. (vi) Full understanding of the aging mechanism with respect to e.g. crack growth with cycling.