Commentary contributed by Jeff Gelb, Carl Zeiss Microscopy

September 14, 2017 | Batteries are complex systems. From the protective mechanisms in the packaging to the finest details of the active materials, a wide range of structures must work together in order for a battery to function properly. As consumers and government agencies alike demand higher energy densities at lower costs per kwh, optimizing these complex systems is of critical importance to furthering battery technologies. In parallel with optimizing the functionality of the cells, it is equally important to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the battery product, during normal use, storage, or extreme conditions. Addressing these issues requires a full understanding of a battery’s life cycle, from formation through performance, so that root-causes can be identified and modifications to structure and/or chemistry may be made. Read more about Batteries by Design: Unique Perspectives Through Multi-Scale Imaging …