Basic Mechanical and Electrical Measurements for Li-ion and Solid-State Battery Materials Using AFM
Li-ion and solid-state batteries play a crucial role in the advancement of modern technology, from portable electronics to electric vehicles. The main challenge in the development of these batteries is improving efficiency, longevity, and safety, which requires an in-depth understanding of the electrode and electrolyte material properties at the nanoscale. Therefore, a characterization tool is needed that not only provides surface morphology data but also quantifies the mechanical and electrical properties of materials.
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is essential in battery material research due to its ability to simultaneously detect mechanical, electrical, and morphological properties. Selecting the right AFM model is critical to obtaining accurate and relevant results in this field.
The Dimension Icon AFM from Bruker offers high-precision measurements, including the PeakForce QNM mode for analyzing mechanical properties such as elasticity modulus, adhesion strength, and deformation without damaging the surface. This mode is particularly useful for mapping mechanical changes in electrode layers due to repeated charging cycles and provides accurate quantitative data on complex surfaces. With the addition of the Conductive AFM (C-AFM) mode, this instrument enables electrical property analysis of materials at the nanoscale, making it a comprehensive solution for characterizing next-generation battery materials.
Carbon Nanotubes
Simultaneous topography and conductivity mapping of single-wall carbon nanotubes loosely attached to Au-patterned silicon using TR-TUNA, with 1 µm resolution.
For example, in battery material research such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), AFM with TR-TUNA technique can map their conductivity at the nanoscale. This mapping provides valuable insights into the conductivity of CNTs and how their conductive properties interact with other material surfaces within battery components.