Meaning
Imaging technology provides high resolution three dimensional views of thin, wide samples using high energy X-rays. For battery research, synchrotron laminography allows for the non-destructive inspection of pouch cells or electrode sheets. It differs from standard computed tomography by rotating the sample around an axis that is not perpendicular to the beam.
This technique is specifically used for objects that are significantly larger in two dimensions than in the third.
Internal Inspection
Internal defects like electrode delamination or dendrite growth become visible at the sub-micron scale. Because synchrotron laminography uses a coherent and intense light source, it captures details that laboratory X-ray machines miss. Researchers can observe the internal dynamics of a battery while it is being charged.
Mathematical Reconstruction
Digital reconstruction converts the series of two dimensional projections into a volumetric model. This process requires specialized algorithms to account for the tilted rotation axis.
Material Development
Failure analysis benefits from the ability to see inside a sealed cell without opening it. By identifying the exact location of a short circuit, synchrotron laminography helps engineers improve the design of separators and coatings. This high level of detail supports the development of more durable and safer battery chemistries.
