With its ability to locally probe electrochemical processes at the nanoscale, atomic force microscopy is well-suited as a characterization tool for energy storage research. A variety of AFM techniques are being widely used to extend the energy density and lifetime of next-generation materials used in storage devices ranging from lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors to fuel cells.

While it is perhaps an obvious choice for investigating the effect of nanostructure on device performance and reliability, AFM is also being used to study local ionic transport and reactivity.