Yen-Lin Chen edited results.tex  over 8 years ago

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\section{Application on Inorganic Samples}  For imaging inorganic samples by ESEM, the key advantage is the removal of the need for conductive coating. Not only the fine details but also the dynamic processes either due to chemical or physical transformations can be observed. Different from hydrated biological specimens, inorganic materials can be imaged at very high temperatures depending on the physical properties of interest. At high temperatures, the ESEM sample chamber functions as the reaction environment for the dynamics to take place on the substrate. Phase transitions\cite{Celik_2002} and oxidation\cite{Millar_1998} are two dynamics of great interests. More and more applications of ESEM have been done on observing the dynamics of electrode chemical reactions in Li-ion Batteries\cite{Raimann_2006}, metal dusting corrosion\cite{Schmid_2001} Batteries\cite{Raimann_2006}  and self-healing glassy composites\cite{Coillot_2010}. \paragraph{\textbf{Electrodes in Li-ion Battery}}  The lithium ion batteries use two graphites as the carbon electrodes with theoretical battery capacity of $372 mAh/g$. The metal alloys with lithium are promising alternatives for electrodes due to their relatively large capacity ($\approx 1000 \sim 4000 mAh/g$). The main disadvantage of the metal alloys is the large volume expansion/contraction during lithiation/delithiation processes. The ESEM turned out to be an ideal tool to keep track of the dynamics of the electrode during chemical reactions for charging/discharging. The electrodes were tin-powder-coated stainless steel grid. The ESEM used a $20 KeV$ primary beam and the sample chamber was filled with argon gas of $200\space Pa$ to prevent oxidation. The electrolyte in the battery was of high boiling point to reduce the evaporation.