DTU Researchers to Build World’s First Neutron Microscope for BatteriesTechnical University of Denmark researchers are developing the world’s first neutron microscope capable of looking inside batteries in real time, offering unprecedented insight into how battery materials degrade. The project is led by Luise Theil Kuhn in collaboration with DTU Physics and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.The neutron microscope will use the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden, the world’s most powerful neutron source, to capture detailed 3D images of battery components while they operate. Neutrons can penetrate materials that light and X-rays cannot, making it possible to study internal processes without opening the devices. This will help researchers validate models of battery behavior and improve the development of longer-lasting, safer energy technologies.The project also involves advanced mirror technology adapted from space telescopes, produced by the DTU spinout CHEXS. The mirrors are only a few nanometers thick and extremely difficult to manufacture, allowing the neutron beam to be concentrated 100 times more than current instruments, resolving details as small as 1/50th of a human hair.Once operational, the neutron microscope will be accessible to researchers worldwide and is expected to accelerate the development of better batteries and more efficient electrolysis cells, contributing to the green energy transition.
Source: Technical University of Denmark
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