| Abstract Scope |
Battery is a chemical reactor of multiple phases, interfaces, and reactions. In recent years, imaging has become an important tool to probe fundamental mechanisms in battery and provide design guidelines. In-operando electron and X-ray imaging has been utilized to study battery materials, although vacuum environment and beam damage have raised concern on the fidelity of observation, especially when sensitive materials are involved. Optical imaging is milder, operates in ambient condition, and is easily accessible. In this presentation, I will talk about our development of in-operando cell as well as in-operando optical microscopy/spectroscopy platform to study 1) zinc electrochemistry in liquid and polymer electrolytes, and 2) bromine electrochemistry in Zn-Br battery. New findings and their implication on battery performance improvement will be discussed. The platform we have developed is expected to be adaptable for studying other electrochemical as well as chemical systems. |