Operando XCT with fine sampling of discharge process provides new insights into anode’s morphology evolution in a commercial zinc-air battery

Abstract Fine sampling of the discharge process revealed details of the anode’s morphology evolution in a commercial zinc-air battery. With special software developed for laboratory XCT scanners, it was possible to observe and quantify the evolution of individual particles. An operando sequence consisting of 30 tomograms within 30 h of discharge at a low C-rate, resulted in shape changes small enough for successful quantification. Two morphological descriptors, i.e. equivalent diameter and complexity factor, were used to assess the morphology of the particles. Details on underlying mechanisms are provided, including the shrinking-core concept, dissolution and the newly observed anisotropic shrinkage.