In situ and operando force‐based atomic force microscopy for probing local functionality in energy storage materials

• DOI: 10.1002/elsa.202100038
• Publication Date: 2021-05-24T13:59:50Z
• Authors: Qiang Gao; Wan‐Yu Tsai; Nina Balke
• Keywords: Characterization; Electrochemical energy conversion; Nanometre

Abstract Electrochemical energy storage is the key enabling component of electric vehicles and solar‐/wind‐based technologies. The enhancement stored requires detailed understanding charge mechanisms local electrochemical electromechanical phenomena over a variety length scales from atoms to full cells. Classical techniques, such as voltammetry, represent macroscopic properties, consequently do not allow extract important information about reactions, ions adsorption, intercalations, transport. Understanding, controlling, tuning functionalities in functional materials require situ/operando techniques which limit use structural characterization that provide information. Here, force‐based atomic force microscopies (AFMs) have provided novel insights into locally probing on tens nanometer even molecular viable pathway probe processes situ/operando. In this review, we highlight contributions development application AFM methods elucidate mechanism energy‐related materials. We will focus particular or modalities liquid electrolyte environment.