The Japanese team of K. Yamamoto, Y. Iriyama, and co-workers has been able to visualize the electric potential distribution across a working device at the nanometer scale.
They used electron holography to directly observe the potential distribution resulting from lithium-ion diffusion in all-solid-state lithium ion batteries operated within a transmission electron microscope. The results reveal in remarkable detail how the potential resulting from lithium ions is distributed across a LiCoO2 positive-electrode/solid-electrolyte interface during charge–discharge reactions. A steep potential drop and a gradually extended slope owing to the electrical double layer are formed near the interface, where the resistance to lithium ion transfer occurs.
Dynamic Visualization of the Electric Potential in an All-Solid-State Rechargeable Lithium Battery
- K. Yamamoto, Y. Iriyama, T. Asaka, T. Hirayama, H. Fujita, C. Fisher, K. Nonaka, Y. Sugita, Z. Ogumi,
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010.
DOI: 10.1002/anie.200907319
- K. Yamamoto, Y. Iriyama, T. Asaka, T. Hirayama, H. Fujita, C. Fisher, K. Nonaka, Y. Sugita, Z. Ogumi, Angew. Chem. 2010.
DOI: 10.1002/ange.200907319