Nanocycles of Materials' Transport studied by in-situ Electron Microscopy and Diffraction

A sub-50pm resolution electron microscope was applied for in-situ studies of ion transport in lithium ion battery and CO-oxidation catalyst. Lithium ions in LiM2O4 electrodes (M: transition metals) and titanium ions in Au/TiO2 catalyst were enabled us to observe individually by ABF-STEM and TEM. Transport of lithium ions was seen, after in-situ observations, to induce structural transformation of the electrode materials that causes irreversible cycle of the battery reaction. Transport of the interstitial titanium ions results, due to oxygen gas for CO-oxidation, in modification of Au/TiO2 interface structure. In-situ studies, thus, revealed materials' transformation induced locally by ion/electron transport of the battery/catalyst system at high resolution and high contrast.