Preferentially oriented SrLi2Ti6O14 thin film anode for Li-ion micro-batteries fabricated by pulsed laser deposition

To realize all-solid-state thin-film microbatteries, robust anode candidates play a key role. SrLi2Ti6O14 forms one such Ti-based anode with ideal combination of electrochemical performance and operational safety. In the current work, SrLi2Ti6O14 anode thin-films were deposited on stainless steel substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique. X-ray diffraction confirmed the crystallinity and phase-purity of these films with preferred orientation. They were found to have uniform thickness with homogeneous morphology as revealed by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. These as-deposited thin-film anodes exhibited active electrochemical behavior, delivering a reversible capacity over 160 mAh.g−1 without any carbon or conductive additives. Involving a Ti4+/Ti3+ redox activity around 1.4 V lying in the safe operational window of organic electrolytes, the SrLi2Ti6O14 thin film forms a promising anode candidate for Li-ion micro-batteries.