4. Conclusion

The application of synchrotron-based characterization techniques to investigate energy storage materials is playing a major role in the fundamental understanding of the electrochemical reaction mechanism of energy storage materials. This chapter provides an overview about various X-ray synchrotron-based characterization techniques and their applications to electrode materials to characterize the nano- and mesoporous phase dynamics, long-range crystal order, and local and electronic changes during the electrochemical cycling of electrode materials. The combination of these techniques can provide critical information to reveal the electrochemical reaction mechanism and functional properties of electrode materials in order to better understand the existing energy storage systems and help design modern electrode materials for future applications. Given the recent developments, it can be expected that application of synchrotron-based characterization techniques will become increasingly important in development of high-performance and stable energy storage materials.
