Advancing Research of Lithium-Ion Batteries Using the Agilent Cary 630 FTIR Spectrometer

Importance of the Topic

The rapid growth of lithium-ion battery applications, particularly in electric vehicles and portable electronics, demands advanced analytical methods to characterize battery materials throughout development and manufacturing.
FTIR spectroscopy offers detailed insights into chemical composition, aiding in the optimization of battery safety, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

Objectives and Study Overview

This summary reviews diverse research studies employing the Agilent Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer to analyze and characterize lithium-ion battery components.
The aim is to illustrate the instrument's versatility, from analyzing electrode materials to monitoring electrolyte composition.

Methodology

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy provides rapid, non-destructive qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Interchangeable sampling modules such as attenuated total reflectance (ATR) enable the study of solids, liquids, and films.
Glovebox integration allows measurements under controlled atmospheres to protect moisture- and oxygen-sensitive materials.

Used Instrumentation

Agilent Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer with interchangeable modules (ATR, germanium ATR).
Agilent MicroLab and MicroLab Expert software for guided workflows and advanced spectral processing.
Glovebox setup for humidity- and oxygen-sensitive analyses.

Key Findings and Discussion

• Vertically aligned graphene oxide films: FTIR revealed removal of C–OH groups after thermal treatment, confirming enhanced electrode structure (Liu et al.).
• Molecular magneto-ionic cathodes: FTIR tracked C≡N vibrational shifts during lithiation/delithiation, enabling real-time charge monitoring (Hu et al.).
• ZIF-67 derived Co–Sn composites: FTIR identified bonding environments in SnO₂/nanoporous carbon composites for improved anode stability (Ashraf et al.).
• CO₂-absorbing polymer coatings: ATR-FTIR monitored epoxy group conversion on foil coatings, enhancing cell safety (Daigle et al.).
• Polymer-grafted Li₄Ti₅O₁₂: FTIR quantified polymer shell formation via –CH₂–CH signals, improving interfacial properties (Daigle et al.).
• Electrolyte composition methods: FTIR with machine learning accurately determined LiPF₆ and solvent concentrations, matching ICP-OES results (Ellis et al., Buteau et al.).
• Polymer electrolytes with GO nanosheets: FTIR assessed lithium salt dissociation fraction to validate enhanced ionic conductivity (Yuan et al.).

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of battery materials.
• Flexible sampling via interchangeable modules suited for solids, liquids, and films.
• User-friendly software minimizes training and reduces errors in busy multi-user labs.
• Compact footprint allows integration within gloveboxes for sensitive samples.
• Machine learning integration enables automated and accurate concentration determination.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Anticipated advances include increased integration of real-time in situ FTIR monitoring during battery cycling,
expanded use of machine learning for spectral interpretation, and further miniaturization of portable FTIR systems for field and industry settings.

Conclusion

The Agilent Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer, combined with intuitive software, provides a versatile and reliable platform for the analysis of lithium-ion battery materials.
Its modular design, robustness, and advanced data processing capabilities support ongoing research efforts to improve battery performance, safety, and sustainability.

Reference

• Masias A.; Marcicki J.; Paxton W.A. Opportunities and Challenges of Lithium Ion Batteries in Automotive Applications. ACS Energy Lett. 2021, 6(2), 621–630.
• Liu Y. et al. Highly Aligned Graphene Oxide for Lithium Storage in Lithium-Ion Battery Through A Novel Microfluidic Process: The Pulse Freezing. Adv. Mater. Interfaces. 2023, 10, 2201612.
• Hu Y. et al. Lithiating Magneto-Ionics in a Rechargeable Battery. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2022, 119(25):e2122866119.
• Ashraf S. et al. ZIF 67 Derived Co–Sn Composites with N-doped Nanoporous Carbon as Anode Material for Li-ion Batteries. Mater. Chem. Phys. 2021, 270, 124824.
• Daigle J.C. et al. Novel Polymer Coating for Chemically Absorbing CO₂ for Safe Li-ion Battery. Sci. Rep. 2020, 10(1), 10305.
• Daigle J-C. et al. A Versatile Method for Grafting Polymers onto Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ Particles Applicable to Lithium-Ion Batteries. J. Power Sources. 2019, 421, 116–123.
• Ellis L.D. et al. A New Method for Determining the Concentration of Electrolyte Components in Lithium-Ion Cells Using FTIR and Machine Learning. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2018, 165, A256.
• Yuan M. et al. High Performance Solid Polymer Electrolyte with Graphene Oxide Nanosheets. RSC Adv. 2014, 4, 59637.
• Buteau S. et al. User-Friendly Freeware for Determining the Concentration of Electrolyte Components in Lithium-Ion Cells Using FTIR, Beer’s Law, and Machine Learning. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2019, 166, A3102.