Materials Today Energy
Volume 21, September 2021, 100844
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Sensitive in-operando observation of Li and O transport in thin-film Li-ion batteries

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2021.100844Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • We simultaneously depth profile Li and O in thin film batteries by elastic scattering methods.

  • In-operando observation of Li and O depth profiles is demonstrated.

  • Reversible Li transport from anode to cathode layer during charge/discharge cycle is observed.

  • Irreversible O transport from anode to cathode upon first charging is shown.

Abstract

Thin-film batteries often contain oxides in the anode, cathode, and electrolyte materials. In-operando methods capable of Li and O depth profiling are relevant for battery research to study, e.g. diffusion and trapping of constituents. Here, we demonstrate ion beam–based analytical methods with high depth resolution and sensitivity for depth profiling Li and O in thin-film batteries using 10 MeV Li and He ions. Simultaneous depth profiling of Li and O was performed using combined coincidence elastic recoil detection analysis and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry measurements in the battery with 8 MeV He ions, and the Li and O transport was measured in operando. Reversible Li transport was observed from the LMO anode to the NbO cathode on charging and vice versa during discharging. O transport was observed from the LMO anode to the NbO cathode on first charging with 3.5 V but was not observed on further charging and discharging of the battery. Our in-operando measurements allow direct and quantitative observation of Li and O transport during charge-discharge cycles for thin-film batteries.

Keywords

Coincidence ERDA
In situ RBS
Li depth profiling
O depth profiling
Solid-state battery
Oxide cathode

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