There is no such thing as “the” battery workflow

Materials researchers, investigating the microstructure of battery electrodes across different length scales, need to conduct correlative microscopy workflows to answer their research questions. Imagine you wanted to analyze a 15 µm sized defect in your battery located 350 µm below the surface. You would need a combination of three-dimensional XRM and FIB-SEM, or even a fs-laser for rapid access to large areas. You would also need an air-free workflow for safety and to protect your sample and microscopes.

The SEM image above shows exactly that, highlighting a small discontinuity in a copper current collector of an all-ceramic multilayer solid state battery. The workflow began with a non-destructive XRM analysis of an intact battery. Then, the battery was disassembled within a glovebox to prepare the sample for electron microscopy. Targeted cross-sections were created using the ZEISS Crossbeam laser, providing direct access to ROIs. Once exposed, SEM-based EDS characterization was employed for detailed chemical analysis.

Different research questions require different approaches. Therefore, there is no such thing as “the” battery workflow. That is why materials researchers need a flexible battery-centric approach that can adapt to varying demands. In this experiment, the ZEISS UniPort protect solution was used to gain insights into battery materials and their behavior under controlled conditions. This inert shuttle solution allows researchers to effectively optimize their processes, handle air-sensitive samples, and combine advanced microscopy techniques with seamless integration into existing laboratory ecosystems.