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Title: Electrochemical insertion of lithium into pyrite from nonaqueous electrolytes at room temperature. An in situ Fe K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure study

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
  3. Eveready Battery Co., Inc., Westlake, OH (United States)

The effects of lithium ion insertion on the structural and electronic properties of FeS{sub 2} (pyrite) have been examined in situ by Fe K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) using electrodes and electrolytes similar to those found in conventional, ambient-temperature, primary Li/FeS{sub 2} batteries. A substantial reduction in the amplitudes of the Fe-S and Fe-Fe backscattering was observed as the amount of intercalated lithium in the FeS{sub 2} lattice was increased from 0 to 2 Li{sup +} equivalents, (Li{sup +}){sub eq}. After the insertion of 2 (Li{sup +}){sub eq}, the second-shell Fe-S interaction and the distant Fe-Fe interactions were no longer discernable in the Fourier transform (FT) data. Curve-fitting analysis of the {kappa}{sup 3}{sub {Chi}}(k) extended X-ray absorption fine structure for this latter material yielded an average Fe-S distance, d(Fe-S) = 2.31 {+-} 0.02 A, which is about 0.05 A longer than d(Fe-S) in crystalline pyrite. In addition, the X-ray absorption near-edge structure revealed a rounding of the otherwise highly structured edge of FeS{sub 2} as the amount of inserted lithium was increased. This behavior is consistent with the formation of Fe{sub 1{minus}x}S and thus supports the assignment made on the basis of in situ {sup 57}Fe Mossbauer effect spectroscopy of the same system. 24 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

OSTI ID:
35467
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 99, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: 16 Mar 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English