In situ small-angle X-ray scattering gives new insights into global ion exchange as well as into local re-arrangement of ions across the nanopores of activated carbon supercapacitors.
<b>Here we use in situ small and wide angle X-ray scattering to elucidate unexpected mechanistic insights of the O2 reduction mechanism in Li-O2 batteries.<br></b>
We have directly observed the <i>in situ</i> self-assembly kinetics of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) micelles by synchrotron time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering, equipped with a stopped-flow device that provides millisecond temporal resolution. This work has elucidated one general kinetic pathway for the process of PEC micelle formation, which provides useful physical insights for increasing our fundamental understanding of complexation and self-assembly dynamics driven by electrostatic interactions that occur on ultrafast timescales.
Tracking the structural arrangement of ions in carbon supercapacitor nanopores using in situ small-angle X-ray scattering