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In Situ Transmission Electron Microsopy of Oxide Shell-Induced Pore Formation in (De)lithiated Silicon Nanowires

Journal Article · · ACS Energy Letters
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States); The University of Texas at Austin
  2. Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
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Silicon (Si) nanowires with a silicon oxide (SiOx) shell undergoing lithiation and delithiation were examined by in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Large pores formed in the nanowires during the delithiation cycle. We found that the oxide shell constrains the expansion of the Si nanowires during lithitation and then induces pore formation in the nanowires. We propose that the SiOx shell prevents the vacancies that result from the loss of lithium from escaping the Si core, leading to pore nucleation and growth. It is also possible that the difference in mechanical properties of the expanding and contracting Si nanowire and SiOx shell contribute to the observed pore formation. Furthermore, this in situ study reaffirms the need to directly observe structural changes that occur during cycling in battery materials, especially when modified by coatings.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1479093
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1558420
Journal Information:
ACS Energy Letters, Journal Name: ACS Energy Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 3; ISSN 2380-8195
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Figures / Tables (5)

Figure 1(p. 2)figure Figure 1
Figure 2(p. 2)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 3)figure Figure 3
Figure 4(p. 3)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 3)figure Figure 5

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Lithium ion batteries
in-situ TEM
nanowires
silicon