Unified iontronic sensing for operando monitoring of physical-chemical events in lithium-ion batteries
Yu‐Cheng Chang, Y. Frank Cheng, Rui Jia, Ruojiang Wang, Qing Xu, Lanqing Gong, Yike Wei, Bin Tang, Chenhui Guo, Bin Sun, Weidong He, Xueyan Li, Lili Gong, Hong Ye, Xiaoyang Wang, Yitao Dai, Mingdong Dong, Yongbing Tang, Fan Zhang, Peng Tan, Tingrui Pan
Abstract
ABSTRACT Operando measurement of expansion force has become an effective way of monitoring physical-chemical events in lithium-ion batteries, of which the conventional optical means is limited by material fragility, structural incompatibility and system complexity. The utilization of flexible sensors can potentially address these challenges; however, their functionality and stability are restricted within hours in corrosive environments. Here, an in-situ unified iontronic sensing mechanism, derived from the super-capacitive electrode/electrolyte interface, is developed for expansion-force measurement in highly corrosive electrolyte environments. Specifically, it leverages the structural and material similarities between batteries and iontronic sensors to create a unified assessing device, utilizing only existing materials to produce in-situ detection. Consequently, the intelligence-incorporated architecture exhibits exceptional stability for continuous measurements over one month, enabling 400 charging/discharging cycles in a battery lifespan. Therefore, the unified iontronic sensing device, which has long-term on-board monitoring of expansion forces, offers an accurate and effective solution for the aging evaluation and safety pre-warning of lithium-ion batteries.