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Microstructure reconstruction of battery polymer separators by fusing 2D and 3D image data for transport property analysis

Journal Article · · Journal of Power Sources

A new approach to generate high-fidelity 3D microstructure reconstructions by leveraging resolution and sample volume characteristics from 2D and 3D microscopy methods is presented here. This approach is employed to model the microstructure of a highly orthotropic polypropylene separator used in lithium-ion batteries, which have challenging multi-scale features of fibrils (<100 nm) and lamellae (>100 nm) to resolve in 3D. Phase contrast nano X-ray computed tomographic data are used to reconstruct the lamellae phase, while 2D scanning electron microscopy data are used to characterize sub-100 nm microstructure features such as the thin fibrils that are beyond the effective resolution of X-ray computed tomography. Fibril geometries are reconstructed stochastically based on the 2D higher resolution data, and integrated with the lamellae geometries in 3D space. Transport property analyses are performed to investigate the bias of microstructure models without considering the fibrils. A sensitivity study is also conducted to facilitate understanding of the relationship between microstructure characteristics and transport properties.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1769865
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2325286
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA--5700-77860; MainId:30775; UUID:b8d452c7-303a-44ff-b86a-e87654c6a7a1; MainAdminID:19843
Journal Information:
Journal of Power Sources, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources Vol. 480; ISSN 0378-7753
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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