Proof of degradation processes in thick film Li(Ni$_{1/3}$Mn$_{1/3}$Co$_{1/3}$)O₂ and LiFePO₄ cathodes by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Nowadays, requirements in lithium-ion battery technology tend to a contemporaneous characteristic of high energy and high power density, which presume a Pareto optimum in each step of layout design. One approach that could cover the demands of simultaneously high energy and power density regulations is the use of the so-called 3D battery concept, which enables short lithium-ion diffusion pathways and a reduced cell impedance. In this study, commercial lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) and tape-casted lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC) cathodes were investigated regarding degradation processes during fast discharging conditions. The visualization of such discovered regions were determined in unstructured and laser-structured electrodes by applying laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Post mortem LIBS analyses of laser structured and unstructured LFP and NMC electrodes were correlated with electrochemical data offering new perspectives in studying degradation processes.