Atom Probe Tomography

Abstract

Over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in atom probe tomography (APT) research for renewable energy applications. This chapter provides an overview of recent applications of APT in Li-ion battery research. It includes an introduction to the technique; fundamentals of specimen preparation from bulk and powder samples; a discussion on acquisition conditions for optimal data quality; and finally, selected case studies to demonstrate the capability and potential of APT. Microstructural and compositional insights obtained by APT can greatly enhance our understanding of the structure evolution, charge/discharge mechanisms, and degradation mechanisms for Li-ion batteries. Going forward, APT will play an increasingly important role in battery research.