Many of the Li-ion batteries that power our mobile phones, tablets and other electronic
devices use graphite as an anode, due to its high rechargeable capacity, low voltage, high cycle
performance, and relatively low cost. During charging and discharging, Li+ ions are intercalated
into (or deintercalated from) the graphite. Li diffusion in solids is one of the main parameters
determining the charge and discharge rate, and a study published in Physical Chemistry
Chemical Physics used muon spin relaxation spectra to investigate diffusive behaviour of Li+
in lithium intercalated graphites. The detection of Li diffusion using muon spin relaxation
is an important precursor to in operando studies of Li diffusion in Li-ion batteries, allowing
observations of the diffusive behaviour both in the cathode and anode as a function of the
state of charge (SOC).
Related publication: I. Umegaki, et. al. “Li-ion diffusion in Li intercalated graphite C6
Li and
C12Li probed by μ+SR” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 19 (2017), 19058-19066
DOI: 10.1039/C7CP02047C
