A novel electrochemical cell for in situ neutron diffraction studies of electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are based on the principle of intercalation of lithium ions in host materials, both at the anode and at the cathode. These materials are in general crystalline and, during the operation of the battery, they undergo numerous phase transitions and structural rearrangements, often amplified by the presence of an applied potential difference. While in situ X-ray diffraction is an established technique in this field, in situ neutron diffraction is still in its pioneering stages and only a few attempts have been made to design an electrochemical cell suitable for these experiments. The technical development of such a device, along with a discussion of its serviceability to combine electrochemical measurements with neutron diffraction experiments, is hereby presented.