Characterizing Ion Transport in Electrolytes via Concentration and Velocity Profiles

Current flowing through an electrolyte is accompanied by continuum motion of ions and solvent, species concentration profiles, and the electric field. While, historically, the understanding of electrolyte transport has predominantly relied on interpreting macroscopic voltage (or current) measurements, recent advances in imaging and spectroscopic techniques allow velocity and concentration profiles to be probed directly. Such detailed information creates exciting opportunities-ranging from verifying theories describing transport in previously studied Li-ion electrolytes, to new approaches for measuring properties as well as accurately and precisely quantifying transport in more complex electrolytes. Such emerging directions are herein discussed.

Automated summary

Current flowing through the electrolyte involves the motion of ions and solvent, concentration profiles, and the electric field. Traditionally, understanding electrolyte transport relied on macroscopic voltage measurements, but recent advances in imaging and spectroscopic techniques allow direct probing of velocity and concentration profiles. This detailed information opens up exciting opportunities, from verifying theories about transport in Li-ion electrolytes to new approaches for measuring and quantifying transport in complex electrolytes. This paper discusses these emerging directions.