Operando neutron radiography validates a parameter-free transport–kinetics model for thick solid-state battery cathodes

This study identifies an incongruency between modeling works and experimental works. Namely, several different experimental methods seem to place the majority of lithium depletion in the center of the cathode, while modeling works place the majority of the depletion nearest to the anode side.

We therefore propose a new model, where the locus of the reactions in the cathode relative to the current collector and the anode is highly valued. This new model, named Tortuosity Weighed Interfacial Flux for Lithium (TWIF-Li), introduces this new modeling framework based on the evidence provided by other experimental works. Finally, this model replicates lithiation gradients observed from the neutron radiography extremely well, without a single fitting parameter.

The work is published in open-access format, and can be viewed here. The code is also published in open-source format, and is available on my GitHub (namely, the ASSC executable).

Recommended citation: Adam, A., Kim, C., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Bilheux, J.-C., Li, X., Cheng, L., Bilheux, H., & Yang, G. (2026). Operando neutron radiography validates a parameter-free transport–kinetics model for thick solid-state battery cathodes. Materials Horizons. https://doi.org/10.1039/D6MH00464D
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