ECC-Opto-Std

Test cell for optical and X-ray characterization in the reflective mode with face-to-face arrangement of electrodes

Discover the ECC-Opto-10, our next generation optical test cell!

  • High cycling stability due to improved sealing concept
  • Improved cell design for easy handling
  • Low profile design for use with light microscopes
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The ECC-Opto-Std test cell is dedicated to the inspection of electrodes by optical methods such as light microscopy or Raman spectroscopy working in the reflection mode. Basically, the respective instrument looks through a transparent window onto the backside of the working electrode. For this purpose the working electrode is to be supported on a perforated current collector or a current collector having a single small hole in its center. Different versions are available for use in either aprotic or aqueous electrolytes and can be adapted to the optical instrumentation used.

ECC-Opto-Std overview

Features

Adjustable, reproducible and homogeneous mechanical pressure on electrodes

Reliable low leakage sealing with PE washers and EPDM O-rings

Easy and reliable electrolyte filling upon assembly

Fast assembly and dismantling and easy cleaning of cell components

Electrodes are easily accessible for post-mortem analysis

Materials in media contact are stainless steel 1.4404 and PEEK (other materials on request)

Specifications
Height 46 mm
Width 88 mm
Depth 63 mm
Weight approx. 200 g
Electrode diameter 10 mm
Electrolyte volume min. 0.1 ml
Manual
Delivery scope
Item nameOrder no.
ECC-Opto-STD test cell
ECC-Opto Cell Cable (30 cm)ECE1-00-0075-A
Electrode feed wire OPTO, NiECC1-00-0010-S
Transfer line syringeECC1-01-0001-A
O-Ring 6.75 mm x 1.78 mm (AP540, 2 pcs.)DIC9013/2
O-Ring 16 mm x 1.8 mm (AP540, 2 pcs.)DIC9012/2
Glass disc 22 mm x 0.3 mm (5 pcs.)LAB0018/V
Separator with tongue 10.0 mm x 1.0 mm, GF (5 pcs.)ECC1-01-0012-J/V
Current collector mesh 16.0 mm x 0.04 mm, Cu (5 pcs.)ECC1-00-0328-A/V
Current collector mesh 16.0 mm x 0.04 mm, Al (5 pcs.)ECC1-00-0328-B/V
Allen wrench 0.9 mmWZG9005
Hex ball screwdriver 3 mmWZG9002

 

Consumables
Item nameOrder no.Webshop
Glass disc 22 mm x 0.3 mm (5 pcs)LAB0018/VBuy online
Separator (GF) 10 x 1 mm (with tongue), 50 pcsECC1-01-0012-J/LBuy online
Current collector mesh, Cu,16 mm x 0.04 mm (ECC-OPTO), (5 pcs)ECC1-00-0328-A/VBuy online
Current collector mesh, Al, 16 mm x 0.04 mm (ECC-OPTO), (5 pcs)ECC1-00-0328-B/VBuy online
O-Ring 6.75 mm x 1.78 mm, (10 pcs)DIC9013/XBuy online
O-Ring 16 mm x 1.8 mm, (10 pcs)DIC9012/XBuy online
Spare parts

Test cell

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the provided borosilicate glass window with any lithium battery electrodes?

Borosilicate glass is a good choice for all common cathode materials and also lithium titanate as the working electrode. However, some anode material such as lithium metal and lithiated graphite may react with the glass window forming greyish spots of elemental silicon on the glass surface. We therefore recommend using sapphire (Al2O3) windows with anode materials.

What is the difference between the ECC-Opto-Std and ECC-Opto-Aqu?

The basic difference is that for the ECC-Opto-AQU gold and PEEK are used for the parts coming into contact with the electrolyte. Gold is stable in most aqueous electrolytes (an important exception are solutions containing chloride), but is sometimes not stable in aprotic electrolytes (gold may form alloys with Li when used as a current collector for the negative electrode in Li+ containing solutions). We have also seen gold corroding in aprotic surpercapacitor electrolytes, R4NBF4 in MeCN, when used as the positive current collector.

Please note that the PEEK polymer used in both cells for the cell body has some stability limits. PEEK is not recommended for aqueous H2SO4 at concentrations >50% (as PEEK is getting sulfonated) and concentrated HNO3. In general, using one and the same cell for both aqueous and aprotic electrolytes may cause trouble because of cross contamination, especially from the aqueous towards the aprotic systems.

Accessories

Window kits

Optional window kits

As a standard, the ECC-Opto-Std is equipped with a borosilicate glass window1 (Order no. LAB0018/V) and a cell lid with a 2 mm diameter window opening (Order no. ECC1-00-0127-A).
Depending on your testing purposes additional window kits are available. Each kit includes one or more windows and a modified cell lid. Further window materials like magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide,  silicon nitride or PET (Mylar®)­ are available on request.

Item namePurposeContentOrder no.Compatible cell holders:

ECC-Opto Beryllium window kit X-Ray characterization

1 x Beryllium window (0.2 mm thickness) ECC1-00-0222-A

1 x Lid (opening: Ø 10 mm, 170°) ECC1-00-0127-C

(Min. viewing angle: ≥8°)

ECC1-00-0156-BCell holder I, Cell holder IIIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std_Aqu
ECC-Opto Beryllium window kit IIX-Ray characterization1 x Beryllium window (0.2 mm thickness) ECC1-00-0222-A

1 x Lid (opening: 23.3 x 5 mm, 170°) ECC1-00-0127-M

(Min. viewing angle: ≥5°)

ECC1-00-0156-HCell holder IIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
ECC-Opto Polyimide window kitX-Ray characterization

3 x Polyimide (Cirlex) window (0.23 mm thickness) ECC1-00-0250-A

1 x Lid (opening: Ø 10 mm, 170°) ECC1-00-0127-C

ECC1-00-0156-FCell holder I, Cell holder IIIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
ECC-Opto Zinc selenide window kitIR characterization

1 x Zinc selenide window (1 mm thickness) ECC1-00-0250-B

1 x Lid (opening: Ø 10 mm, 150°) ECC1-00-0127-E

Note: Zinc selenide reacts with lithium metal or lithiated graphite. It is not recommended to be used in this combination.

ECC1-00-0156-DCell holder I, Cell holder IIIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
ECC-Opto Calcium fluoride window kitIR characterization

1 x Calcium fluoride window (1 mm thickness) ECC1-00-0250-C

1 x Lid (opening: Ø 10 mm, 150°) ECC1-00-0127-E

ECC1-00-0156-ECell holder I, Cell holder IIIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
ECC-Opto Sapphire window kit IRaman characterization, Light microscopy1 x Sapphire window (0.3 mm thickness) ECC1-00-0149-A

1 x Lid (opening: Ø 10 mm, 150°) ECC1-00-0127-B
ECC1-00-0156-CCell holder I, Cell holder IIIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
ECC-Opto Sapphire window kit IIRaman characterization, Light microscopy1 x Sapphire window (0.3 mm thickness) ECC1-00-0149-A

1 x Lid (opening: Ø 6 mm, 160°) ECC1-00-0127-H
ECC1-00-0156-JCell holder I, Cell holder IIIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
ECC-Opto Borosilicate glass window (standard)Light microscopy

1 x Borosilicate glass window (0.3 mm thickness) LAB0018

1 x Lid (opening: Ø 2 mm, 160°) ECC1-00-0127-A

-Cell holder I, Cell holder IIIECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
Cell holder

Cell holder I for ECC-Opto-Std

The Cell holder I is designed for the use of the ECC-Opto-Std in light microscopes.  It fits nicely on sample stages of most manufacturers (e.g. Thermofisher or Renishaw) utilizing standard microscope slides (75 x 26 mm, ISO 8037-1).

Specifications

Item nameHeightWidthDepthOrder no.
Cell holder II for ECC-Opto-Std41.3mm78mm76mmECC1-00-0335-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
Cell holder III for ECC-Opto-StdCell holder III for ECC-Opto-Std20mm 75mm61.5mmECC1-00-0419-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
Cell holder I (ECC-Opto-Std)Cell holder I for ECC-Opto-Std32mm75mm50mmECC1-00-0414-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu


Cell holder II for ECC-Opto-Std

The Cell holder II is designed for the use of the ECC-Opto-Std in XRD microscopes like the Bruker D8.

Specifications

Item nameHeightWidthDepthOrder no.
Cell holder II for ECC-Opto-Std41.3mm78mm76mmECC1-00-0335-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
Cell holder III for ECC-Opto-StdCell holder III for ECC-Opto-Std20mm 75mm61.5mmECC1-00-0419-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
Cell holder I (ECC-Opto-Std)Cell holder I for ECC-Opto-Std32mm75mm50mmECC1-00-0414-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu


Cell holder III for ECC-Opto-Std

The Cell holder III is designed for the use of the ECC-Opto-Std in a Bruker FTIR Hyperion 2000 microscope.

Specifications

Item nameHeightWidthDepthOrder no.
Cell holder II for ECC-Opto-Std41.3mm78mm76mmECC1-00-0335-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
Cell holder III for ECC-Opto-StdCell holder III for ECC-Opto-Std20mm 75mm61.5mmECC1-00-0419-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu
Cell holder I (ECC-Opto-Std)Cell holder I for ECC-Opto-Std32mm75mm50mmECC1-00-0414-A

ECC-Opto-Std, ECC-Opto-Std-Aqu

Gallery

Videos

ECC-Opto-Std Assembly Mode 1 (2-electrode sandwich setup) 04/2018

In this video, we show how to build the ECC-Opto-Std test cell in the alternative assembly mode #1.

A 1 mm wide electrode strip, cut from a conventional graphite electrode with copper foil current collector, is being used as the working electrode. This electrode strip is sandwiched with a lithium iron phosphate electrode connected to both the counter and the reference electrode of the potentiostat.

Importantly, the graphite layer is pointing towards the window on top, so that the current can only enter from the two edges of the graphite strip. This face-up geometry results in a gradient of the local electrode potential along the width of the electrode strip, rather than into the depth of the graphite layer.

ResolutionDateTypeSize
ECC-Opto-Std Assembly Mode 1 (2-electrode sandwich setup)1920x1080px04/2018wmv236 MBDownload

ECC-Opto-Std Assembly Mode 2 (2-electrode side-by-side setup) 04/2018

In this video, we show how to build the ECC-Opto-Std test cell in the alternative assembly mode #2.

Again, a 1 mm wide electrode strip, cut from a conventional graphite electrode with copper foil current collector, is being used as the working electrode.
This time, the electrode strip is placed beside a lithium metal foil connected to both the counter and the reference electrode of the potentiostat.
With a microscope “looking” through the window, we can observe the color change of the graphite during charge and discharge
and, at the same time, the growth of dendrites at the lithium metal counter electrode.

ResolutionDateTypeSize
ECC-Opto-Std Assembly Mode 2 (2-electrode side-by-side setup)1920x1080px04/2018wmv272 MBDownload

ECC-Opto-Std Assembly Mode 3 (3-electrode side-by-side setup) 04/2018

In this video, we show how to build the ECC-Opto-Std test cell in the alternative assembly mode #3.

Again, a 1 mm wide electrode strip, cut from a conventional graphite electrode with copper foil current collector, is being used as the working electrode,and again this electrode strip is placed beside a piece of lithium metal foil.

However, this time the lithium metal is connected only to the reference electrode of the potentiostat, while a lithium iron phosphate electrode, placed below the graphite strip, is serving as the counter electrode.

ResolutionDateTypeSize
ECC-Opto-Std Assembly Mode 3 (3-electrode side-by-side setup)1920x1080px04/2018wmv246 MBDownload

ECC-Opto-Std Assembly (Standard sandwich setup) 07/2015

This video shows the general assembly of the test cell ECC-Opto-Std; a test cell for optical and X-ray characterization in the reflective mode.

ResolutionDateTypeSize
Assembly of the ECC-Opto-Std (Standard sandwich setup)1280x720px07/2015mp430 MBDownload

ECC-Opto-Std Standard sandwich mode: Free-standing graphite electrode on holed current collector 05/2016

In this experiment, the ECC-Opto-Std test cell has been used to visualize the color change of a graphite electrode during electrochemical lithiation. A 10 mm diameter free-standing graphite electrode was used as the working electrode (WE). The WE was sandwiched with a glass fiber separator and a lithium metal counter electrode. A holed copper foil was used as the WE current collector. The microscope “looked” through the 1 mm diameter hole in the copper foil onto the backside of the graphite electrode. One picture was taken every 5 minutes.

The time-lapse video starts at the fully lithiated state after the graphite electrode had been fully discharged overnight to 5 mV versus the lithium metal counter electrode. The next 2.5 cycles are shown, starting with the golden color of the fully lithiated graphite, and ending up with the silver-black color of almost pure graphite. Both charge and discharge were conducted at constant current with a rate of C/3, followed by constant voltage periods till the current had dropped to C/30.

ResolutionDateTypeSize
ECC-Opto-Std Standard sandwich mode: Free-standing graphite electrode on holed current collector1600x1200px05/2016wmv52 MBDownload

ECC-Opto-Std Mode 1: Graphite electrode strip sandwiched with LFP Counter electrode 07/2017

In this video, we show how the ECC-Opto-Std test cell can be used to visualize a potential gradient inside graphite, just by using a standard graphite electrode with a continuous copper foil as the current collector (rather than a holed current collector).

A 9 mm diameter lithium iron phosphate (LFP) electrode was used as the lower electrode and lithium ion source. Two glass fiber discs (10 mm dia, 2 x 0.26 mm thick) were used as the separator. A 2 mm wide strip of the graphite electrode was placed on top of the separator, with the supporting copper current collector in between the LFP electrode and the graphite layer.

This way, the copper foil blocks the direct perpendicular ion current between the two opposing electrodes, and forces the ions to enter the graphite at the two edges of the electrode strip.

As a consequence, a beautiful color gradient can be observed along the plane of the graphite electrode.

Read more about this sample test

ResolutionDateTypeSize
ECC-Opto-Std Mode 1: Graphite electrode strip sandwiched with LFP Counter electrode1600x1200px07/2017wmv61 MBDownload

ECC-Opto-Std Mode 2: Visualizing lithium dendrite growth in a graphite vs lithium metal cell 10/2017

Using our ECC-Opto-Std test cell, we have placed a strip of graphite next to a lithium metal electrode (having the shape of a semicircle) on top of a glass fiber separator soaked with electrolyte. A sapphire window is placed on top of the assembly. By means of the applied mechanical pressure, the soft glass fiber separator deliberately fills up the gap between the graphite strip and the lithium metal electrode. We call this a side-by-side arrangement, because the two electrodes are placed side-by-side rather than being sandwiched as in a conventional set-up.

For the electrochemical cycle, the graphite strip is connected to the working electrode of the potentiostat, the lithium metal semicircle to the counter and reference electrode. The video shows how the color gradient evolves along the width of the graphite electrode during lithiation/ delithiation, and how lithium metal dendrites grow and shrink at the edge of the lithium metal counter electrode.

Noteworthy, many dendrites grown during the plating half cycle survive the subsequent stripping half cycle. We stopped the video just before this irreversibility resulted into an internal short circuit.

Read more about this sample test

ResolutionDateTypeSize
ECC-Opto-Std Mode 2: Visualizing lithium dendrite growth in a graphite vs lithium metal cell1600x1200px10/2017wmv80 MBDownload
ECC-Opto-Std Mode 2: Visualizing lithium dendrite growth in a graphite vs lithium metal cell1600x1200px10/2017mp4116 MBDownload

ECC-Opto-Std Mode 3: Graphite electrode sandwiched with an LFP counter electrode 12/2017

Using our ECC-Opto-Std test cell, we have placed a strip of a graphite electrode beside a piece of lithium foil having the shape of a semicircle. A glass fiber separator is pressed against this side-by-side assembly from below, so as to fill up the gap between the two electrodes. From below, a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) electrode is pressed against the separator serving as the counter electrode. The microscope “looks” through the sapphire window onto the graphite electrode with the active layer facing up, and the current-less lithium metal foil beside. For the electrochemical experiment, the graphite strip is connected to the working electrode of the potentiostat, the LFP semicircle to the counter electrode, and the lithium metal foil to the reference electrode. The video shows how the color gradient evolves along the width of the graphite electrode during lithiation/ delithiation.

Read more about this sample test

ResolutionDateTypeSize
ECC-Opto-Std Mode 3: Graphite electrode sandwiched with an LFP counter electrode1600x1200px11/2017wmv71 MBDownload

Recommended tools

ECC-RefLoad

Ref loading tool – Useful tool for conveniently loading the Ref-sleeve

Product details

ECC-LiPunch

Punching tool for lithium foil. The recommended size for use with the ECC-Opto-Std is 10 mm.

Product details

EL-Cut

High Precision Cutting Tool eliminates torn and chipped electrode edges. The recommended size for use with the ECC-Opto-Std is 10 mm.

Product details

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