Argonne Team Tracks Ion Motion in Solid Materials
A new neutron scattering method reveals correlated ion movement in strontium chloride crystals, a finding relevant to solid-state battery design.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Energy
Researchers led by Argonne National Laboratory demonstrated 4D quasielastic neutron scattering (4D-QENS), a technique tested at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The study provided direct evidence of correlated motion among ions in single-crystal strontium chloride.
Why it matters
Understanding how ions move through solids is central to improving solid-state batteries and related energy technologies. The results agree with earlier work on ion hopping between lattice sites while adding direct observational evidence.
The measurements were taken on strontium chloride crystals, which become fast-ion conductors above 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether the same correlated ion motion occurs in more complex materials has not been established.
The players
Argonne National Laboratory
A U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory near Chicago that led the research team and conducts large-scale science in energy and materials.
Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
A neutron research facility in Tennessee where the 4D-QENS testing took place and which recently underwent a power upgrade.
The details
The 4D-QENS method rotates a single-crystal sample while exposing it to neutrons, and changes in neutron velocity and direction are measured to chart ion movements in detail. The work was supported by DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences and published in PRX Energy.
Timeline
Above 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit: strontium chloride becomes a fast-ion conductor.
About 15 years ago: the sample rotation method was used at pulsed neutron sources.
November 3, 2026: the study was published and announced by Argonne.
Energy Research Trajectory
The study extends the research supported by DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences on ion transport in solid materials. It adds direct experimental evidence to earlier work on ion hopping between lattice sites.
Better models of ion movement could eventually inform the design of solid-state batteries used in future devices. Commercial timelines for such products were not addressed in the study.
The takeaway
Ion movement inside solids is a key factor in battery performance, and direct measurements like these help refine the models engineers rely on. Readers tracking energy storage can watch for follow-up work applying the method to more complex materials.
Further reading
Explore more Energy coverage for context on solid-state battery research happening across Illinois.
