Quantifying electrochemical processes in batteries and beyond

The correlation of electrochemical measurements with materials characterization has advanced our understanding of operation and degradation mechanisms in electrochemical energy storage and many other fields. Yet, often these correlations are qualitative, preventing the unambiguous identification of both operational principles and the root causes of performance losses. Here we suggest quantitative approaches to define competing mechanisms and determine their relative contributions. We illustrate the importance of quantitative methodologies over a range of electrochemical systems and highlight the need to consider the effect of the experimental design and measurement itself. These approaches will reveal the most detrimental degradation mechanisms and enable the development of strategies to suppress, stabilize or eliminate them, leading to materials and devices with longer lifetimes, reduced environmental impact, and improved performance.