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Identification of LiH and nanocrystalline LiF in the solid–electrolyte interphase of lithium metal anodes

Journal Article · · Nature Nanotechnology
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [6];  [3];  [5];  [7];  [7];  [1];  [1]
  1. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Daegu Gyeongbuk Inst. of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu (Korea, Republic of)
  3. Army Research Lab., Adelphi, MD (United States)
  4. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  5. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
  6. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)
  7. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
A comprehensive understanding of the solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition is crucial to developing high-energy batteries based on lithium metal anodes. A particularly contentious issue concerns the presence of LiH in the SEI. In this work, we report on the use of synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function analysis to identify and differentiate two elusive components, LiH and LiF, in the SEI of lithium metal anodes. LiH is identified as a component of the SEI in high abundance, and the possibility of its misidentification as LiF in the literature is discussed. LiF in the SEI is found to have different structural features from LiF in the bulk phase, including a larger lattice parameter and a smaller grain size (<3 nm). These characteristics favour Li+ transport and explain why an ionic insulator, like LiF, has been found to be a favoured component for the SEI. Finally, pair distribution function analysis reveals key amorphous components in the SEI.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704; AC02-05CH11231; AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1764002
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1764597
OSTI ID: 1785714
Report Number(s):
BNL--220958-2021-JAAM
Journal Information:
Nature Nanotechnology, Journal Name: Nature Nanotechnology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 16; ISSN 1748-3387
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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