Cu2Sb thin film electrodes prepared by pulsed laser deposition f or lithium batteries

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2003 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

OSTI ID:838607

Song, Seung-Wan ^[1]; Reade, Ronald P; Cairns, Elton J; Vaughey, Jack T; Thackeray, Michael M; Striebel, Kathryn A

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1. LBNL Library

Thin films of Cu2Sb, prepared on stainless steel and copper substrates with a pulsed laser deposition technique at room temperature, have been evaluated as electrodes in lithium cells. The electrodes operate by a lithium insertion/copper extrusion reaction mechanism, the reversibility of which is superior when copper substrates are used, particularly when electrochemical cycling is restricted to the voltage range 0.65-1.4 V vs. Li/Li+. The superior performance of Cu2Sb films on copper is attributed to the more active participation of the extruded copper in the functioning of the electrode. The continual and extensive extrusion of copper on cycling the cells leads to the isolation of Li3Sb particles and a consequent formation of Sb. Improved cycling stability of both types of electrodes was obtained when cells were cycled between 0.65 and 1.4 V. A low-capacity lithium-ion cell with Cu2Sb and LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 electrodes, laminated from powders, shows excellent cycling stability over the voltage range 3.15 - 2.2 V, the potential difference corresponding to approximately 0.65-1.4 V for the Cu2Sb electrode vs. Li/Li+. Chemical self-discharge of lithiated Cu2Sb electrodes by reaction with the electrolyte was severe when cells were allowed to relax on open circuit after reaching a lower voltage limit of 0.1 V. The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formed on Cu2Sb electrodes after cells had been cycled between 1.4 and 0.65 V vs. Li/Li+ was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; the SEI layer contributes to the large irreversible capacity loss on the initial cycle of these cells. The data contribute to a better understanding of the electrochemical behavior of intermetallic electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE. Office of Science. Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Chemical Sciences Division (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 838607
• Report Number(s): LBNL--53584
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Vol. 151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CAPACITY
COPPER
CU2SB INTERCALATION ANODE LI BATTERY PULSED LASER DEPOSITION
DEPOSITION
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
EXTRUSION
LASERS
LITHIUM
REACTION KINETICS
SOLID ELECTROLYTES
SPECTROSCOPY
STABILITY
STAINLESS STEELS
SUBSTRATES
THIN FILMS