Scientists at Tokyo University of Science developed a method to monitor lithium-ion battery slurries during manufacturing, identifying coating conditions that improve performance before cells are assembled.
Using an upgraded rheo-impedance spectroscopy technique (combining shear testing with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), the team studied lithium iron phosphate cathode slurries under industrial-like coating conditions.
They found coating speed had a major impact: at low shear rates conductive additives clumped, and at very high rates the network broke apart, but a middle range around 50 s⁻¹ produced evenly distributed additives with strong connections — yielding lower resistance and better cycling stability.
measurement uses less than one milliliter of slurry and completes in about five minutes, said Associate Professor Isao Shitanda. Further validation across other battery chemistries is still required.
