The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded Purdue University $367,582 on January 1, 2027, to develop opto-charge microscopy, an optical imaging method for observing lithium ion movement through battery electrode materials during operation. The project runs through December 31, 2029, and is performed in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The research establishes a characterization framework that integrates operando optical imaging with first-principles calculations, finite element modeling, and quantitative image analysis to map local lithium concentration and electrochemical heterogeneity in battery electrodes. The method will correlate optical signals with electronic structure calculations, electrochemical measurements, and computational modeling to create a physics-based relationship between optical response and lithium concentration, then apply the framework to investigate electrochemical dynamics in battery materials. The technique will use widely available optical equipment, making it accessible to the broader research community for studying electrochemical materials used in rechargeable batteries, catalysts, chemical manufacturing, and energy conversion systems.
The project includes interdisciplinary training for students in experimental science, computational modeling, and data analysis, along with K-12 outreach through research-inspired educational activities coordinated with Purdue programs. The work falls under the NSF Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) and is classified as a Project Grant.