Multiscale characterization of a lithium/sulfur battery by coupling operando X-ray tomography and spatially-resolved diffraction.

Due to its high theoretical specific capacity, the lithium/sulfur battery is one of the most promising candidates for replacing current lithium-ion batteries. In this work, we investigate both chemical and morphological changes in the electrodes during cycling, by coupling operando spatially resolved X-ray diffraction and absorption tomography to characterize Li/S cells under real working conditions. By combining these tools, the state of the active material in the entire cell was correlated with its electrochemical behavior, leading to a deeper understanding of the performance limiting degradation phenomena in Li/S batteries. Highly heterogeneous behavior of lithium stripping/plating was observed in the anode, while the evolution of sulfur distribution in the cathode depth was followed during cycling.