1. Direct observation of important morphology and composition changes at the surface of the CuO conversion material in lithium batteries.
- Author
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Martin, Lucile, Martinez, Hervé, Poinot, Delphine, Pecquenard, Brigitte, and Le Cras, Frédéric
- Subjects
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LITHIUM-ion batteries , *SUPERIONIC conductors , *ELECTRODES , *CYCLIC voltammetry , *CRYSTAL morphology , *ATOMIC force microscopy , *COPPER oxide , *THIN films - Abstract
Abstract: Morphology and composition changes occurring at the surface of CuO thin film electrode, used as conversion material for lithium-ion battery, were investigated at different stages of the electrochemical cycling by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Analyses were performed on samples obtained in LiPF6 containing carbonate-based electrolyte and prepared by linear sweep voltammetry. The formation/partial dissolution of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) was evidenced by XPS analyses. The SEI layer formed on lithiated CuO thin film during the first reduction between [3.5–0.8] V/Li+/Li is characterized by a LiF-rich inner layer and a Li2CO3-rich outer layer. Furthermore, reduction/oxidation cycles induced important surface morphology modifications. In particular, the growth and then the vanishing of large spherical nodules (∼400 nm in diameter) were observed during the lithium insertion and the subsequent deinsertion. During the twenty first cycles performed, even if a stable electrochemical behavior was shown, breathing of the thin film was also clearly evidenced by AFM images with the appearance and disappearance of numerous cracks as a function of Li removal and Li insertion processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2014
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