Connect battery materials properties to performance through advanced characterization techniques

Understanding electrochemical processes during battery cycling demands specialized analytical tools that go beyond static analysis. Battery Materials Characterization: Advanced Techniques and Applications, written by two searchers with combined publications exceeding 280 papers in energy materials and synchrotron radiation, covers a wide range of battery types and the in situ/operando characterization methods required to link materials properties with electrochemical performance.

The book provides dedicated treatment of XAS, TXM, ND/PDF, RIXS, EPR, TOF-SIMS, DEMS, and Cs-TEM variants applied to battery systems. Each technique is examined through case studies addressing material degradation, interfacial reactions, dynamic structural evolution, and electronic state changes under operational conditions. Coverage extends to multimodal analysis approaches that combine multiple methods for multiscale, multidimensional characterization of battery materials.

The book also covers:

• In situ and operando characterization methods enabling real-time tracking of material dynamics during battery cycling and operation
• Integration of multi-mode characterizations combining spectroscopy, microscopy, and diffraction for multiscale analysis of electrode materials
• Actionable guidance and real-world case studies demonstrating practical application of each analytical technique to battery research
• Machine learning and large-scale data analysis approaches applied to characterization data interpretation and materials discovery
• Emerging ultrafast and high-resolution methods representing future directions in battery materials analysis and electrochemical research

Written for materials scientists, electrochemists, spectroscopists, structural chemists, solid state chemists, and physical chemists, this reference connects advanced characterization techniques with practical battery research applications. It serves researchers and practitioners who require authoritative, technique-specific guidance across multiple battery chemistries and analytical methods.

Ning Li is an associate professor at Beijing Institute of Technology and sub-platform leader and head of new energy technology at BIT Chongqing Innovation Center. He conducted postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory focusing on energy materials including silicon-based anodes, layered cathodes, and synchrotron radiation characterization.

Liang Zhang is a full professor at FUNSOM at Soochow University. His research focuses on energy storage materials and synchrotron radiation, including in situ/operando X-ray spectroscopy (XAS/XES/RIXS/XPS) and the development of new synchrotron radiation-based spectroscopy and microscopy methods for energy storage and conversion materials.