Analysis of Battery Materials

Analysis of Lithium-Ion Secondary Battery

JFE-TEC analyzes materials such as positive electrode material, negative electrode material, separator and collector that compose lithium-ion secondary battery. We also evaluate charge/discharge characteristics and deteriorated electrodes.

We conduct analysis of the distribution/shape/blending rate of active materials constituting positive electrode material and negative electrode material, binders, conductive assistant, pore, etc., analysis of Li distribution/chemical state, and investigation of structure transformation/change during charge/discharge as well as investigation of atomic arrangement in positive electrode material, structure transformation/change of negative/positive electrode materials during charge/discharge, chemical state of SEI layer, morphology of separator, aggregate structure of collector, and crystalline phase/crystalline orientation.

• Analysis in inert atmosphere and in situ analysis

  • SEM, TEM, Cs corrector STEM, XPS, AES, thermal analysis, etc. in condition without exposure to atmosphere
  • Damage-free processing by dual beam FIB equipped with cryo-function
  • Structure change of graphite negative electrode material during charge/discharge, structure change of LiMn₂O₄ positive electrode during charge/discharge by in situ XRD

• Morphological observation

  • Observation of the positive electrode material/negative electrode material using SEM (sectional SEM image of coating film of lithium cobalt oxide-based positive electrode)
  • Evaluation of fraction of materials in positive electrode (positive electrode material, binder, pore) using SEM
  • Observation of the structure change in Si-based negative electrode material due to charge/discharge using SEM
  • Fine structure of LiMn₂O₄ positive electrode using Cs corrector STEM
  • Structure observation of the Cu electrode material for lithium-ion secondary battery using image captured by scanning ion microscope (SIM)

• Elementary analysis

  • Composition analysis by chemical analysis
  • Local analysis by LA-ICP-MS
  • Element mapping by ULV-SEM-EDX
  • Structure change of NiCo-based positive electrode material deteriorated by charge/discharge test using TEM-EDX
  • Lithium distribution in positive electrode material by Cs corrector STEM/EELS
  • Analysis of lithium in deteriorated graphite negative electrode by Cs corrector STEM/EELS
  • Behavior of lithium in Si negative electrode in charged state by Cs corrector STEM/EELS
  • Elemental mapping analysis in section of positive electrode active material
  • Cobalt mapping of coating film on lithium cobalt oxide-based positive electrode by EPMA
  • Measurement of distribution of lithium and fluorine in electrode by rf-GDS

• Chemical state

  • Distribution of lithium in Si negative electrode material due to charge/discharge and structure change of Si by Cs corrector STEM/EELS
  • Chemical state of lithium in oxide positive electrode material by Cs corrector STEM/EELS
  • State change of lithium in oxide positive electrode material due to charge/discharge by Cs corrector STEM/EELS
  • State analysis of lithium in deteriorated electrode (SEI layer) by XPS

• Crystalline structure analysis

  • Identification of crystalline phase by XRD
  • Orientation distribution of positive electrode material by EBSP
  • Structure change of LiMn₂O₄ positive electrode during charge/discharge by in situ XRD
  • Structure change of graphite negative material during charge/discharge by in situ XRD
  • X-ray diffraction crystalline structure analysis in condition without exposure to atmosphere

Analysis of Capacitor, Fuel Cell, and Solar Cell

JFE-TEC analyzes the fine structure (shape, crystalline structure, composition) of capacitors, fuel cells and solar cells.

• Morphological observation

  • ULV-SEM observation of the distribution of Pt catalyst for fuel cell (PEFC)
  • Observation of the MEA section for fuel cell/ion milling of cryo-section
  • Observation of the oxidation phase of aluminum capacitor surface using ULV-SEM
  • Observation of the electrolyte oxide in fuel cell (SOFC) using ULV-SEM
  • Observation of the MEA for fuel cell (PEFC)/cryo-section ion milling using ULV-SEM
  • Observation of the power generation layer (ZnO/pigment composite layer) of pigment-sensitized solar cell (organic solar cell) using FIB-ULV-SEM
  • Fine TEM observation of the Pt catalyst
  • Observation of the lamination structure of CIGS for solar cell using Cs corrector STEM
  • Observation of the Si thin film interface for solar cell using Cs corrector STEM

• Elementary analysis

  • Infinitesimal analysis for polycrystalline Si _polycrystalline silicon?
  • Observation and analysis of insulation film by SEM-EDX
  • Analysis of element distribution in MEA for fuel cell (PEFC)/cryo-section ion milling by EPMA
  • Phase-based analysis of electrolyte oxide in fuel cell (SOFC) using ULV-SEM-EDX

• Chemical state

  • Evaluation of electron state of Pt catalyst for fuel cell (PEFC) by XPS