Silicon solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) of lithium ion battery characterized by microscopy and spectroscopy
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
7-3-2013
Abstract
The surface reactions of electrolytes with a silicon anode in lithium ion cells have been investigated. The investigation utilizes two novel techniques that are enabled by the use of binder-free silicon (BF-Si) nanoparticle anodes. The first method, transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, allows straightforward analysis of the BF-Si solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The second method utilizes multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of D2O extracts from the cycled anodes. The TEM and NMR data are complemented by XPS and FTIR data, which are routinely used for SEI studies. Coin cells (BF-Si/Li) were cycled in electrolytes containing LiPF 6 salt and ethylene carbonate or fluoroethylene carbonate solvent. Capacity retention was significantly better for cells cycled with LiPF 6/FEC electrolyte than for cells cycled with LiPF6/EC electrolyte. Our unique combination of techniques establishes that for LiPF 6/EC electrolyte the BF-Si SEI continuously grows during the first 20 cycles and the SEI becomes integrated with the BF-Si nanoparticles. The SEI predominantly contains lithium ethylene dicarbonate, LiF, and Li xSiOy. BF-Si electrodes cycled with LiPF6/FEC electrolyte have a different behavior; the BF-Si nanoparticles remain relatively distinct from the SEI. The SEI predominantly contains LiF, Li xSiOy, and an insoluble polymeric species. © 2013 American Chemical Society.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume
117
Issue
26
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Nie, Mengyun, Daniel P. Abraham, Yanjing Chen, Arijit Bose, and Brett L. Lucht. "Silicon solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) of lithium ion battery characterized by microscopy and spectroscopy." Journal of Physical Chemistry C 117, 26 (2013): 13403-13412. doi: 10.1021/jp404155y.