Charged EVs | Mizzou researchers explore protective coatings for solid-state batteries

Using a combination of advanced imagery and ultra-thin coatings, University of Missouri (Mizzou) researchers are looking to develop protective coatings for solid electrolytes to make safer batteries.

Using four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D STEM), the researchers examined the atomic structure of a battery without taking it apart to gain an understanding of the chemical reactions happening inside.

Assistant Professor Matthias Young’s lab specializes in thin films formed by a vapor-phase deposition process known as oxidative molecular layer deposition (oMLD). He plans to test whether these materials can form protective coatings to prevent the solid electrolyte and cathode materials from reacting with each other.

“The coatings need to be thin enough to prevent reactions but not so thick that they block lithium-ion flow,” Young said. “We aim to maintain the high-performance characteristics of the solid electrolyte and cathode materials. Our goal is to use these materials together without sacrificing their performance for the sake of compatibility.”

The research paper, “Understanding Cathode-Electrolyte Interphase Formation in Solid State Li-Ion Batteries via 4D-STEM,” was published in Advanced Energy Materials.

Source: University of Missouri