Why particle size distribution matters in battery materials characterization

by Umesh Tiwari, Thursday, 5th September 2024

Effective control of the particle size distribution is essential for both the development and manufacturing of high-performance batteries. An ideal particle size distribution can improve the stability of battery slurries and enhance electrochemical performance, for instance. However, particle size distribution is not always easy to measure!

Traditional particle sizing techniques like sieving help filter the particle sizes present, but in battery manufacturing, it is often preferable to optimize the electrode slurry with a mixture of smaller and larger particles to balance key performance parameters. Additionally, such methods are also time-consuming, making them unfit for a production environment.

Laser diffraction provides a suitable solution. This technique can deliver highly reproducible results in as little as a few seconds, and thanks to the Mastersizer 3000+, is easy to execute even without advanced technical expertise. Our next live broadcast event, Powering Up Battery Characterization with Mastersizer 3000+, will deliver greater insights into the Mastersizer system and the significance of particle sizing analysis in battery materials research and production.

The benefits of particle sizing with laser diffraction

In the graphite anode materials used in electrode slurries, the size of the particles is crucial to battery performance. For example, too broad and coarse a distribution of particles and you may find that fewer passivation SEI layers form on the electrode, causing the battery to self-discharge too much between uses and shortening its operating life due to exfoliaition. The solution is simple: Craft a slurry with a narrow distribution of smaller particles to encourage healthy SEI formation and protect the battery from erosion.

However, manufacturers must also be wary of going too far. If your particles are too small, excessive SEI passivation on the surface of the electrode will not only restrict the energy flow when a load is placed on the cell, but also reduces the lifetime capacity of the battery. To optimize battery processes and create the right balance of energy flow and operating life for your battery, you need to get your particle size distribution just right every time.

Enter laser diffraction. By passing a laser beam through a dispersed particulate sample, laser diffraction instruments rapidly determine the size and proportion of the particulates based on Mie’s theory of light scattering. This enables you to optimize the properties of battery slurries, electrode coatings, and battery cells quickly and reliably, even in a production environment – and the Mastersizer 3000+ makes this easier than ever.

Reliable measurements in record time

With the Mastersizer 3000+ laser diffraction instrument, you get access to near-instantaneous insights into your particulate mixture, all in a user-friendly interface that takes the guesswork out of particle size distribution measurement. Our SOP Architect feature guides even novice users through the method development process, while the Measurement Manager helps you optimize measurement conditions in real time as you analyze particles anywhere from 10nm to 3.5mm in size. When you receive your results, you can consult Mastersizer 3000+’s Data Quality Guidance software to identify potential data quality issues and receive suggestions for solutions.

To learn more about these innovations and discover even more features of the Mastersizer 3000+, join our live broadcast event on October 2, 2024, from 16:00 to 17:00 CET. Paul Senior, Product Manager for Mastersizer 3000+, and Yassamin Ghafouri, a laser diffraction Application Scientist, will share how the Mastersizer 3000+ can supercharge battery characterization in research and production settings, drawing on interesting case studies and answering audience questions.

Whether you’re a researcher interested in battery characterization and optimizing the performance of battery slurries, electrode coatings, and battery cells, or you simply want to understand laser diffraction analysis better, don’t miss out on these expert insights.

Register here to secure your spot!

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