Showcasing Research Using Squidstats - October 2026
Rate capability and impedance analysis for coated and uncoated NMC in all-solid-state batteries. Collected on a Squidstat Plus at the University of Michigan
This month we're showcasing research article titled “Eliminating chemo-mechanical degradation of lithium solid-state battery cathodes during >4.5 V cycling using amorphous Nb2O5 coatings” from the University of Michigan.
Eliminating Chemo-Mechanical Degradation of Lithium Solid-State Battery Cathodes During >4.5 V Cycling Using Amorphous Nb2O5 Coatings
M.K. Jangid, T.H. Cho, T. Ma, D.W. Liao, H. Kim, Y. Kim, M. Chi, N.P. Dasgupta. Eliminating chemo-mechanical degradation of lithium solid-state battery cathodes during >4.5 V cycling using amorphous Nb2O5 coatings. Nat Commun 15, 10233 (2024).
This paper investigates how coating single-crystal NMC532 with amorphous Nb2O5 affects the electrochemical performance of the cathode in all-solid-state batteries. After conformally coating the NMC with Nb2O5, it was incorporated into a composite cathode and used to construct an all-solid-state battery with an LPSC solid electrolyte and LTO anode. A Squidstat Plus was used to perform all electrochemical experiments, including cycling, rate-capability, and impedance spectroscopy.
Cells were charged to three different upper voltage limits: 4.3 V, 4.5 V, and 4.7 V vs. Li/Li+. At all voltage limits, the coated NMC exhibited superior initial coulombic efficiency compared to the uncoated NMC. Similar performance enhancements were observed in the rate capability and long-term cycling stability tests, marked by higher capacities and decreased polarization in the coated samples.
The decrease in polarization was further investigated using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy functionality of the Squidstat Plus. Combined with materials characterization (XPS, TEM, XRD), it was found that the impedance increase in the uncoated samples was caused by the growth of the cathode-electrolyte interface layer up to 4.3 V. At higher voltages, irreversible structural degradation within the cathode particles impaired Li transport and further increased impedance. These effects were significantly diminished by the Nb2O5 coating, even after repeated cycling up to 4.7 V. This work demonstrated a simple method for improving the cycling performance of NMC at higher voltages in all solid-state batteries, and Squidstats had a big part to play!
This is just one example of how Squidstats are being used to further electrochemical research every day in labs all over the world! Do you want to showcase how you use Squidstats in your research? Send us an email at support@admiralinstruments.com!
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