What has changed inside the electrode
During use and ageing, the materials of a battery change. Radicals and defects can form in carbon and in other materials, and metal ions can change their state or move from one electrode to another. EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) sees these radicals and the paramagnetic metal species directly, in the solid, so a used electrode can be compared with a fresh one.
Where it is used
- Cathode and anode materials, fresh, cycled and aged
- Carbon materials and conductive additives
- Electrolytes and separators
- Materials from research on new battery chemistries
Typical tasks are comparing fresh and used material, looking for radicals and defects, and detecting metal species that have moved during use.
Compare a used and a fresh sample
A small piece of the electrode is placed in a tube, and the spectrum is recorded. Signals are compared with those of a fresh electrode, and with a reference of known spin number when amounts are needed.
What it adds
- Sees radicals, defects and paramagnetic metals directly, in the solid
- A small piece of electrode is enough
- Non-destructive, with little preparation
- Complements other methods of characterisation
Points that matter in practice
- Electrode materials are often sensitive to air and moisture, so they have to be handled and sealed in a suitable way, for example in a glove box
- Conductive materials absorb microwaves, which reduces the sensitivity, so use small amounts and compare samples measured in the same way
- Interpreting a spectrum from a complex electrode needs care, and it is best done together with other characterisation
- Amounts need a reference sample and identical conditions
From your materials to a routine method
Describe your materials and your question. MSY Consulting runs feasibility measurements, helps you plan the sample handling and the references, and supports the analysis.
Let's talk about your application
Send an email describing your instrument and your application, and you will get a reply.
contact@msyconsulting.euMSY CONSULTING SAS · Wissembourg, France · LinkedIn