In this interview, we speak with Dr. Beverly Barnum, Senior Scientist, and Weichen Gan, Application Scientist, from Bettersize Instruments about how advanced particle analysis techniques are accelerating solid-state battery innovation. The discussion examines how particle size, morphology, and density impact battery performance, safety, and manufacturability, and how Bettersize technologies enable researchers and manufacturers to optimize these critical properties.
Can you please introduce yourself and your role at Bettersize Instruments?
Dr. Beverly Barnum: I specialize in helping customers understand how particle-level data can impact application-specific performance – in this case, solid-state batteries. My role involves supporting product development and guiding how particle size, morphology, and density analyses can drive innovation in battery research and manufacturing.
Weichen Gan: I focus on translating technical measurement methods into real-world solutions. My work involves implementing and demonstrating technologies like laser diffraction and gas pycnometry to help customers achieve reliable and precise data, especially for sensitive materials such as sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes.
Why is particle analysis so important in solid-state battery (SSB) development?
Dr. Beverly Barnum: Particle analysis is absolutely foundational for SSBs. These batteries rely on solid electrolytes, and that means we need excellent contact between solid particles – an inherently more challenging interface than in liquid electrolytes. Key performance aspects, such as conductivity, packing density, and mechanical stability, all hinge on particle characteristics. Uniform and optimized particles improve ion transport and mechanical integrity, which are crucial for longevity, safety, and energy density.
How do particle size and morphology affect battery performance?
Dr. Beverly Barnum: Smaller particles enhance ionic conductivity by increasing surface contact, but if they’re too fine, they tend to agglomerate or increase reactivity. On the other hand, larger particles offer better mechanical stability but reduce conductivity. The goal is to strike a balance. Additionally, morphology – especially the shape and distribution – impacts how well particles pack and maintain contact over multiple charge cycles.
What are the main challenges when analyzing particles for SSB materials?
Weichen Gan: The biggest challenge is safely handling reactive materials, such as sulfide-based solid electrolytes. These are sensitive to moisture and oxygen, so exposure during measurement can skew your results or damage your sample. We address this by integrating our instruments, like the Bettersizer 2600, into glove boxes. This enables both dry and wet dispersion inside a controlled atmosphere, ensuring accuracy and sample integrity.
Can you explain how tap and true density influence battery manufacturability?
Dr. Beverly Barnum: Tap density reflects how particles pack under vibration, impacting volumetric energy density and the uniformity of electrode formation. True density, on the other hand, measures the intrinsic mass-to-volume ratio of the solid material – key for formulation and understanding phase purity. Both are vital for predicting how materials will behave during processing and in operation.
What technologies does Bettersize offer for these measurements?
Weichen Gan: We provide a comprehensive toolkit. The Bettersizer 2600 handles particle size via laser diffraction and dynamic imaging. The PowderPro A1 and BeDensi T Pro deliver accurate tap and bulk density data automatically and consistently. For true density, we offer the BetterPyc 380, an automatic gas pycnometer that delivers precise results – even under glove box integration. All our systems are ASTM-compliant and designed for both R&D and high-throughput environments.
Can you share a real-world example of particle optimization?
Weichen Gan: One clear example is with LFP cathode materials. In a recent test, we compared an overground four-micron sample with a nine-micron optimized sample. Despite the finer size, the smaller particles packed less efficiently, giving a lower tap density. The larger particle sample achieved a higher density, improving energy storage capability. This shows how optimization isn’t about going smaller – it’s about finding the sweet spot.
What role does particle analysis play in interface engineering?
Dr. Beverly Barnum: The interfaces between the solid electrolyte and electrodes are often the weakest links in SSBs. Uneven particles lead to poor contact, which increases resistance and promotes mechanical degradation. By engineering the size and shape distribution and layering materials with tailored particle gradation, we can create stable interfaces that support longer cycle life and better performance.
How do Bettersize instruments support industrial-scale quality control?
Weichen Gan: We’ve designed our instruments to bridge R&D precision and industrial scalability. The modular nature of systems like the Bettersizer 2600 allows for seamless transitions between sample types and environments. Automation in devices like the PowderPro A1 eliminates operator error, and our software integration simplifies workflows. We’ve also made sure our systems are glove-box compatible and easy to clean for sensitive materials.
What do you see as the next frontier for particle analysis in battery research?
Dr. Beverly Barnum: It's all about smarter materials and control. We're moving toward layered particle architectures, nanoscale engineering, and real-time QC feedback loops. Particle analysis will need to become even more precise, yet faster and more automated. As SSBs move closer to mass production, control over particle characteristics will be the key differentiator in determining battery performance and reliability.
Speaker Biographies
Dr. Beverly Barnum
Dr. Beverly Barnum is a Senior Scientist at Bettersize Instruments with extensive experience in particle characterization and material science. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California and has over two decades of experience in applying particle analysis techniques to optimize energy storage materials. Prior to joining Bettersize, Dr. Barnum held research positions in both industry and academia, where she focused on materials development for batteries and catalysis. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has authored multiple publications on particle morphology, density, and material behavior in electrochemical systems.
Weichen Gan
Weichen Gan is an Application Scientist at Bettersize Instruments, specializing in the practical deployment of particle analysis tools across diverse industries. With a background in materials science and engineering, Gan focuses on integrating technologies such as laser diffraction, gas pycnometry, and automated density measurement into real-world laboratory and production environments. He has played a key role in developing glove-box-integrated workflows for handling sensitive battery materials, and frequently supports customers in optimizing analytical accuracy while maintaining safety and reproducibility in process-sensitive applications.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Bettersize Instruments Ltd.
For more information on this source, please visit Bettersize Instruments Ltd.
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