Neutron Radiography Validates a Parameter-Free Model that Predicts Exactly Where Lithium Gets Stuck in Thick Electrodes
August 14, 2026
(a) Cell schematic for operando neutron radiography. (b) example of measured grayscale neutron transmission. (c)transmission values averaged across battery thickness (d) radiographs show ratio of attenuation coefficients (compared to a pristine state).Dark colors indicate lower presence of lithium.
Scientific Achievement
We developed TWIF-Li (Tortuosity-Weighted Interfacial Flux for Lithium) that predicts lithium transport and reaction heterogeneity in thick all-solid-state battery cathodes.
Significance and Impact
TWIF-Li was validated directly against operando neutron radiography without any fitting to cycling data.
Research Details
- Simulations show asynchronous behavior emerging from kinetic limitations at higher current densities.
- Operando neutron radiography at C/10 and C/5 tracked through-thickness Li distributions at MARS.
- Data collected at VENUS showed no beam hardening effects at the wavelength range used at MARS.
"Operando neutron radiography validates a parameter-free transport–kinetics model for thick solid-state battery cathodes," Materials Horizons 13, 13 (2026)
https://doi.org/10.1039/d6mh00464d
