IN SITU CHARACTERIZATION OF ELECTROCHEMICAL AND NANOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLID-STATE ELECTROLYTE USING ADVANCED SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUES

Abstract

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are critical for the prosperity of energy storage devices with higher power density and better cycle performance. A central question is developing the counterpart solid-state electrolytes (SSEs). High conductive SSEs with good chemical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties are expected to be the next generation electrolytes, the development of which closely relies on understanding the mechanism of the SSEs. In this thesis, special attention has been paid to the ion transport mechanisms, electrochemical stability, and nanomechanical properties of several types of SSEs, including polymer and inorganic ceramic electrolytes. Multiple Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) based techniques, including force curve spectroscopy, Electrochemical Strain Microscopy (ESM), Amplitude Modulated Frequency Modulated (AM-FM) technique, Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (c-AFM) have been employed to get insight into the underlying mechanisms of these SSEs. It is proven that SPM-based characterization techniques are powerful for investigating the local morphology, mechanical, and electrochemical properties associated with ionic transport.