Although lithium, and other alkali ion, batteries are widely utilized and studied, many of the chemical and mechanical processes that underpin the materials within, and drive their degradation/failure, are not fully understood. Hence, to enhance the understanding of these processes various ex situ, in situ and operando characterization methods are being explored. Recently, electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM), and related techniques, have emerged as crucial platforms for the versatile characterization of battery material surfaces. They have revealed insights into the morphological, mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of battery materials when they evolve under electrochemical control. This critical review will appraise the progress made in the understanding batteries using EC-AFM, covering both traditional and new electrode–electrolyte material junctions. This progress will be juxtaposed against the ability, or inability, of the system adopted to embody a truly representative battery environment. By contrasting key EC-AFM literature with conclusions drawn from alternative characterization tools, the unique power of EC-AFM to elucidate processes at battery interfaces is highlighted. Simultaneously opportunities for complementing EC-AFM data with a range of spectroscopic, microscopic, and diffraction techniques to overcome its limitations are described, thus facilitating improved battery performance.

中文翻译：

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通过原位电化学原子力显微镜表征电池：批判性评论

尽管锂和其他碱离子电池已被广泛使用和研究，但许多支撑内部材料并导致其降解/失效的化学和机械过程尚未完全了解。因此，为了增强对这些过程的理解，正在探索各种异地、原位和原位表征方法。最近，电化学原子力显微镜 (EC-AFM) 和相关技术已成为电池材料表面通用表征的重要平台。他们揭示了电池材料在电化学控制下演化时的形态、机械、化学和物理特性。本次批判性审查将评估在使用 EC-AFM 理解电池方面取得的进展，涵盖传统和新型电极-电解质材料结。这一进展将与所采用的系统体现真正具有代表性的电池环境的能力或无能力并列。通过将关键的 EC-AFM 文献与从替代表征工具得出的结论进行对比，突出了 EC-AFM 阐明电池界面过程的独特能力。同时描述了用一系列光谱、显微和衍射技术补充 EC-AFM 数据以克服其局限性的机会，从而促进提高电池性能。通过将关键的 EC-AFM 文献与从替代表征工具得出的结论进行对比，突出了 EC-AFM 阐明电池界面过程的独特能力。同时描述了用一系列光谱、显微和衍射技术补充 EC-AFM 数据以克服其局限性的机会，从而促进电池性能的提高。通过将关键的 EC-AFM 文献与从替代表征工具得出的结论进行对比，突出了 EC-AFM 阐明电池界面过程的独特能力。同时描述了用一系列光谱、显微和衍射技术补充 EC-AFM 数据以克服其局限性的机会，从而促进电池性能的提高。