Application of synchrotron x-ray techniques to the analysis of energy storage materials

One of the main objectives of characterizing target materials is to identify the key factors influencing the electrochemical properties and performance, and to provide a technique for finding new energy storage materials that can be practical candidates for next-generation battery materials. The progress in analysis technology enables a more complete understanding of what governs the properties and performance of energy storage materials. The fundamental understanding provided by diverse approaches from nano- to micro-levels can help to bridge the gap between industrial and academic research fields for the improvement and commercialization of state-of-the-art energy storage materials. Each level offers its own challenges and advantages, but an understanding of how different levels of change are linked and influence one another is required for a holistic approach. In this respect, synchrotron-based X-ray analysis techniques are a suitable and powerful methodology for observing and tracing the various ranges of factors. Herein, we provide a brief introduction to synchrotron-based X-ray techniques for analyzing energy storage materials, and a diversity of scenarios where synchrotronbased characterization methods contribute to understanding the aforementioned multi-scale factors and the related electrochemical properties and performance.