I do not understand the point of half cell measuring of cathode or anode materials before testing them in a full cell. Any explanations or suggested literature?
The performance of the full cell can be judged with the help of combination of two different electrodes. In a half cell reaction, working electrode is coupled with known standard potential electrode ie. Li/Li+. This will gives the more detail information on the working electrode .Particularly for a single electrode, the electrochemical characteristics only depends on the nature of reaction and independent of whether the electrode is galvanic or electrolytic.