Real-time powder diffraction studies of energy materials under non-equilibrium conditions

Energy materials form the central part of energy devices. An essential part of

their function is the ability to reversibly host charge or energy carriers, and

analysis of their phase composition and structure in real time under nonequilibrium

conditions is mandatory for a full understanding of their atomicscale

functional mechanism. Real-time powder diffraction is increasingly being

applied for this purpose, forming a critical step in the strategic chemical

engineering of materials with improved behaviour. This topical review gives

examples of real-time analysis using powder diffraction of rechargeable battery

electrodes and porous sorbent materials used for the separation and storage of

energy-relevant gases to demonstrate advances in the insights which can be

gained into their atomic-scale function.