20 June 2012
Bruker today announced the release of an accessory for Li battery electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) research.
The EC-AFM accessory adds a sealed electrochemical cell specifically designed for battery research and turnkey 1 parts per million (ppm) environmental control to the Dimension Icon AFM platform to enable long-term in situ studies of Li battery electrodes.
This solution also leverages Bruker’s Peak Force Tapping technology to provide the fluid imaging with ScanAsyst and to track in situ nanoscale electrode changes during a charging cycle with high-resolution PeakForce QNM property mapping.
The Dimension Icon electrochemical accessory is designed for the widest chemical solvent compatibility, combining inert Teflon and Kel-F cell bodies with a sealed chamber to enable long-term in situ electrode studies under electrochemical control and in volatile solvents. The cup-shaped electrochemical cell is designed to allow efficient sample change and connection independent from counter-electrode (dis)assembly. It is fully compatible with Bruker’s 1ppm environmental control package, creating a turnkey system for interrogating Li battery samples. A new probe holder designed specifically for this cell, together with the Dimension Icon's motorized stage and proprietary software, enable repeated engagement on the same location, even upon adding solvent to a previously dry sample.
The company says this combination also allows fast, easy engaging onto black samples, such as Li cathode materials.
