Morphological Evolution of Sn‐Metal‐Based Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries Using Operando X‐Ray Imaging

Abstract Sn‐based electrodes are promising candidates for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries. However, it suffers from deleterious micro‐structural deformation as it undergoes drastic volume changes upon lithium insertion and extraction. Progress in designing these materials is limited to complex structures. There is a significant need to develop an alloy‐based anode that can be industrially manufactured and offers high reversible capacity. This necessitates a profound understanding of the interplay between structural changes and electrochemical performance. Here, operando X‐ray imaging is used to correlate the morphological evolution to electrochemical performance in foil and foam systems. The 3D Sn‐foam‐like structure electrode is fabricated in‐house as a practical approach to accommodate the volume expansion and alleviate the mechanical stress experienced upon alloying/dealloying. Results show that generating pores in Sn electrodes can help manage the volume expansion and mitigate the severe mechanical stress in thick electrodes during alloying/dealloying processes. The foam electrode demonstrates superior electrochemical performance compared to non‐porous Sn foil with an equivalent absolute capacity. This work advances the understanding of the real‐time morphological evolution of Sn bulky electrodes.