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Application of X-ray and Neutron Scattering Techniques in Materials Research: Lithium Batteries and Electronic

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X-ray and neutron powder diffraction provide complementary information on the structures of inorganiccomplex oxides, primarily because of the different dependence of atomic scattering power, or scattering length, onatomic number. Neutron diffraction is particularly useful for characterising novel lithium transition metal oxides whichhave applications in prototype advanced lithium battery systems. Thus, it is possible to establish conduction pathwaysfor mobile Li+ ions and to distinguish between transition metal ions in ordered spinel structures such as Li2NiMn30s,which has a charge-discharge potential of 4.7V. An additional feature of such materials is oxygen non-stoichiometry inwhich their oxygen content depends on sample preparation conditions and temperature. This oxygen non-stoichiometrymay be analysed by thermogravimetry and the transition metal oxidation states determined, in the solid state, by the X-rayabsorption technique, XANES. Structural changes as a function of temperature may be followed by high temperaturediffraction methods and as a function of lithium content during charging/discharging of lithium batteries by in situsynchrotron XRD. A range of examples of the applications of these techniques will be presented.A. R. WestUniversity of Sheffield, Department of Engineering Materials,Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, SJ 3JD, United Kingdom