Strengths and limitations of various analytical methods for all-solid state microbatteries

In this study, a comprehensive characterization of the commercially available all-solid-state battery (ASSB) was performed using various analytical techniques. SEM and EDX analyses revealed porosity in the Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO43 (LATP) electrolyte and Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) electrode, which hinders lithium-ion transport and affects electrochemical performance. ToF-SIMS confirmed a higher lithium concentration in the electrode compared to the electrolyte, while EBSD showed that the Cu current collector has randomly oriented grains, ensuring adequate electrical conductivity. AFM provided insights into surface morphology and potential distribution, confirming the effectiveness of ion polishing in sample preparation. Raman spectroscopy detected LATP electrolyte, indicating its potential use for process monitoring. Additionally, X-ray microscopy (XRM) enabled non-destructive imaging of the battery’s internal structure, although it was limited in resolving electrode and electrolyte layers. These findings contribute to a better understanding of solid-state battery design and highlight the strengths and limitations of various characterization techniques for performance optimization.