1. Structural and chemical analysis of hard carbon negative electrode for Na-ion battery with X-ray Raman scattering and solid-state NMR spectroscopyAva Rajh, Matej Gabrijelčič, Blaž Tratnik, Klemen Bučar, Iztok Arčon, Marko Petric, Robert Dominko, Alen Vižintin, Matjaž Kavčič, original scientific article Abstract: This study explores the structural changes of hard carbon (HC) negative electrodes in sodium-ion batteries induced by insertion of Na ions during sodiation. X-ray Raman spectroscopy (XRS) was used to record both C and Na K-edge absorption spectra from bulk HC anodes carbonized at different temperatures and at several points during sodiation and desodiation. Comparing the [pi]*/[sigma]*
regions in the C K-edge spectra sp2/sp3 hybridization ratio of material was determined. Higher carbonization temperatures led to increased order in graphitic structure and shorter bond lengths. Sodiation caused a decrease in graphitic layer order due to inserted Na ions. Complementary operando solid state 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) studies confirmed the structural changes, while showing pore filling mechanism, which is not observed in ex situ measurements, primarily at higher carbonization temperatures. XRS analysis of Na K-edge spectra revealed systematic variations in the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) composition during cycling. Changes in XRS spectra were attributed to both SEI composition alterations, accompanied by the insertion/adsorption of Na ions at defect sites within the carbon structure. Keywords: hard carbon, RIXS, carbon XANES, EXAFS, NMR, Na battery Published in RUNG: 10.09.2024; Views: 732; Downloads: 1 Full text (7,76 MB) This document has many files! More... |
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3. Characterization of electrochemical processes in metal-organic batteries by X-ray Raman spectroscopyAva Rajh, Iztok Arčon, Klemen Bučar, Matjaž Žitnik, Marko Petric, Alen Vižintin, Jan Bitenc, Urban Košir, Robert Dominko, Hlynur Gretarsson, Martin Sundermann, Matjaž Kavčič, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: X-ray Raman spectroscopy (XRS) is an emerging
spectroscopic technique that utilizes inelastic scattering of hard Xrays
to study X-ray absorption edges of low Z elements in bulk
material. It was used to identify and quantify the amount of
carbonyl bonds in a cathode sample, in order to track the redox
reaction inside metal−organic batteries during the charge/
discharge cycle. XRS was used to record the oxygen K-edge
absorption spectra of organic polymer cathodes from different
multivalent metal−organic batteries. The amount of carbonyl bond
in each sample was determined by modeling the oxygen K-edge
XRS spectra with the linear combination of two reference compounds that mimicked the fully charged and the fully discharged
phases of the battery. To interpret experimental XRS spectra, theoretical calculations of oxygen K-edge absorption spectra based on
density functional theory were performed. Overall, a good agreement between the amount of carbonyl bond present during different
stages of battery cycle, calculated from linear combination of standards, and the amount obtained from electrochemical
characterization based on measured capacity was achieved. The electrochemical mechanism in all studied batteries was confirmed to
be a reduction of double carbonyl bond and the intermediate anion was identified with the help of theoretical calculations. X-ray
Raman spectroscopy of the oxygen K-edge was shown to be a viable characterization technique for accurate tracking of the redox
reaction inside metal−organic batteries. Keywords: X-ray Raman spectroscopy, meta-organic batteries, oxygen K-edge XANES, electrochemical processes Published in RUNG: 24.03.2022; Views: 2436; Downloads: 21 Link to full text This document has many files! More... |
4. Sulfur based batteries studied by in-operando S K-edge RIXS and XAS spectroscopyMatjaž Kavčič, Ana Robba, Janez Bitenc, Alen Vižintin, Iztok Arčon, Matjaž Žitnik, Klemen Bučar, Robert Dominko, 2018, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: Sulfur based batteries are considered as very attractive energy storage devices. Sulfur is one of the most abundant elements in the earth, it is electrochemically active material which can accept up to two electrons per atom. In combination with alkali metals, sulfur forms electrochemical couples with much higher theoretical energy density compared to Li-ion batteries commonly available today. At the moment, the electrochemical couple with Li is most extensively studied. While the main principle of operation is known the relevant operation mechanism(s) is not completely clear. Even more promising is the electrochemical couple with Mg providing almost twofold higher volumetric energy density due to its ability to provide two electrons during oxidation. However, Mg-S batteries are still in the very early stage of research and development and the complex mechanism of sulfur conversion has been less extensively studied.
In order to improve the understanding of sulfur electrochemical conversion and its interactions within electrode, we need to apply new experimental approaches capable to provide precise information about local environment of S in the cathode during battery operation. In our work, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) and XAS measurements at the sulfur K-edge performed in operando mode were used to study the lithium-polysulfide formation during the discharge process. Measurements were performed at ID26 beamline of the ESRF synchrotron using tender X-ray emission spectrometer [1]. Resonant excitation condition enhanced the sensitivity for the lithium−polysulfide detection. On the other hand, the sulfate signal from the electrolyte was heavily suppressed and the self-absorption effects minimized due to fixed excitation energy.
This experimental methodology was used to provide quantitative analysis of sulfur compounds in the cathode of a Li−S battery cell during the discharge process [2]. The high-voltage plateau in the discharge curve was characterized by a rapid conversion of solid sulfur into liquid phase Li polysulfides reaching its maximum at the end of this plateau. At this point the starting point for the precipitation of the Li2S from the liquid polysulfide phase was observed. The same approach has been used also for the Mg-S battery revealing similar mechanism as in case of Li-S battery [3]. The electrochemical conversion of sulfur with magnesium proceeds through two well-defined plateaus, which correspond to the equilibrium between sulfur and Mg polysulfides (high-voltage plateau) and polysulfides and MgS (low-voltage plateau). Keywords: Mg-Sulphur batteries, XANES, RIXS Published in RUNG: 13.09.2018; Views: 5949; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
5. A Mechanistic Study of Magnesium Sulfur BatteriesAna Robba, Alen Vižintin, Jan Bitenc, Gregor Mali, Iztok Arčon, Matjaž Kavčič, Matjaž Žitnik, Klemen Bučar, Giuliana Aquilanti, Charlotte Martineau-Corcos, Anna Randon-Vitanova, Robert Dominko, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Magnesium sulfur batteries are considered as attractive energy storage devices due to the
abundance of electrochemically active materials and high theoretical energy density. Here we
report the mechanism of a Mg-S battery operation, which was studied in the presence of
simple and commercially available salts dissolved in a mixture of glymes. The electrolyte
offers high sulfur conversion into MgS in the first discharge with low polarization. The
electrochemical conversion of sulfur with magnesium proceeds through two well-defined
plateaus, which correspond to the equilibrium between sulfur and polysulfides (high-voltage
plateau) and polysulfides and MgS (low-voltage plateau). As shown by XANES, RIXS and
NMR studies, the end discharge phase involves MgS with Mg atoms in a tetrahedral
environment resembling the wurtzite structure, while chemically synthesized MgS crystalizes
in the rock-salt structure with octahedral coordination of magnesium. Keywords: magnesium, sulfur, rechargeable batteries, XAS, NMR Published in RUNG: 19.10.2017; Views: 5285; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
6. Study of Li-S batteries by S K-edge RIXS spectroscopyMatjaž Kavčič, Matjaž Žitnik, Klemen Bučar, Marko Petrič, Iztok Arčon, Robert Dominko, Alen Vižintin, 2016, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: Li-S batteries are considered as one of the most promising candidates for future batteries in applications where high energy density is required [1]. Despite that the general principle of operation is known for a long time [2], the lack of detailed understanding of relevant operation mechanisms has so far prevented their extensive use. A Li-S battery is composed of a lithium metal anode and a sulfur based cathode, separated by a porous separator wetted with electrolyte. During the battery cycle the reduction and oxidation of S to Li2S and back proceeds through a complicated equilibrium mixture of compounds that are typically dissolved in the electrolyte in the form of long and short chain polysulfides. In order to improve our understanding of polysulfide formation and its interactions within electrode, which are essential to achieve the long term cycling stability, development and application of new analytical tools is required.
In this work sulfur K-edge resonant X-ray emission (RXES) measurements were performed on the Li-S battery in operando mode. The experiment was performed at the ID26 beamline at ESRF using the Johansson type tender x-ray emission spectrometer [3]. Full K-L RIXS maps were recorded on a set of chemically prepared Li2Sx sample standards characterized by different Li:S stoichiometric ratio, followed by the operando measurements on Li-S battery. Using the spectra recorded on Li2Sx standards two excitation energies were chosen and RXES spectra from the back of the battery cathode were sequentially acquired during one discharge cycle (C20). The relative amounts of each sulfur compound in the cathode during the discharge cycle were determined from the linear combination fit using measured reference standard spectra. Because of resonant excitation conditions the sensitivity for the polysulfide detection was significantly enhanced. Our work sets up S K-edge RIXS spectroscopy as an important analytical tool to study the mechanism of Li-polysulfide formation in the cathode and their interaction with the host matrix and electrolyte. Keywords: RIXS, RXES, Li-S battery, operando, Sulphur K-edge XANES, Lithium polysulphides, Li2S Published in RUNG: 28.06.2016; Views: 6572; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
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