Dynamic imaging of lithium in solid-state batteries by operando electron energy-loss spectroscopy with sparse coding

Lithium-ion transport in cathodes, anodes, solid electrolytes, and through their interfaces plays a crucial role in the electrochemical performance of solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Direct visualization of the lithium-ion dynamics at the nanoscale provides valuable insight for understanding the fundamental ion behaviour in batteries. Here, we report the dynamic changes of lithium-ion movement in a solid-state battery under charge and discharge reactions by time-resolved operando electron energy-loss spectroscopy with scanning transmission electron microscopy. Applying image denoising and super-resolution via sparse coding drastically improves the temporal and spatial resolution of lithium imaging. Dynamic observation reveals that the lithium ions in the lithium cobaltite cathode are complicatedly extracted with diffusion through the lithium cobaltite domain boundaries during charging. Even in the open-circuit state, they move inside the cathode. Operando electron energy-loss spectroscopy with sparse coding is a promising combination to visualize the ion dynamics and clarify the fundamentals of solid-state electrochemistry. Understanding lithium ion dynamics holds the key to unlocking better battery materials and devices. Here, by combining electron energy-loss spectroscopy and machine learning, the authors reveal how lithium is extracted from LiCoO2 cathode used in a solid-state battery.