Emerging Electron Microscopy Techniques for Probing Functional Interfaces in Energy Materials

Abstract

Interfaces play a fundamental role in many areas of chemistry. However, their localized nature requires characterization techniques with high spatial resolution in order to fully understand their structure and properties. State‐of‐the‐art atomic resolution or in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy‐loss spectroscopy are indispensable tools for characterizing the local structure and chemistry of materials with single‐atom resolution, but they are not able to measure many properties that dictate function, such as vibrational modes or charge transfer, and are limited to room‐temperature samples containing no liquids. Here, we outline emerging electron microscopy techniques that are allowing these limitations to be overcome and highlight several recent studies that were enabled by these techniques. We then provide a vision for how these techniques can be paired with each other and with in situ methods to deliver new insights into the static and dynamic behavior of functional interfaces.

Recent trends in covalent functionalization of 2D materials

“…High energy spectroscopy, 536 such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), 189,232,393,537 electron energy loss This journal is © the Owner Societies 2022 spectroscopy (EELS), 286,538 energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS or EDX), 286 and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), 192 are direct methods to analyze element composition of 2D materials using high energy beam radiation (e.g., photon, electron, or ion).…”

Dendrites in Solid‐State Batteries: Ion Transport Behavior, Advanced Characterization, and Interface Regulation

“…offered a fundamental vision for how various classes of techniques can be successfully paired with each other and with in situ characterization to gain important insights into the static and dynamic behavior that occurred at the functional interfaces. [ 188 ] To address Li dendrite and further commercialize SSBs, the degree of coupling of the Young's modulus of lithium, SSE, and cathode particles should be considered comprehensively. Young's moduli of metallic lithium whiskers measured by Zhang et al.…”

Metal/semiconductor interfaces in nanoscale objects: synthesis, emerging properties and applications of hybrid nanostructures

“…Additionally, advanced analytical microscopy techniques coupled to the microscope will shed light on optical and optoelectronic properties. 418 Advances in electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS, used in STEM), 419 in particular, could give further insight on the connection between composition (e.g., doping levels, oxidation states) 420 and electronic structure (bandgap, plasmon frequencies, etc. [421][422][423] ), temporal transformation of chemical properties 424 and atomic-resolution of interfaces of complex nanostructures.…”