Title: Coupling in situ

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is a low-cost material that is widely used in plating and is under consideration as a reversible deposit for a range of energy storage applications. In recent years, researchers have demonstrated that the Zn morphology can be tuned by electrodepositing from an ionic liquid often leading to morphologies that improve cyclability. However, the underlying mechanisms that control deposition and morphology are not well understood. In this work, we evaluate the evolution of zinc morphology as a function of the deposition thickness using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), in situ ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) and ex situ electron microscopy. Imaging reveals two dominant features: a hexagonal plate-like morphology associated with individual Zn crystals and larger domains in which the individual crystals appear co-aligned. Analysis of the key features observed by USAXS indicates that the growth of the domain size is non-linear with the charge passed and that at least some of this non-linearity can be attributed to increased coalescence of the individual plates as the deposit thickens. Finally, a more detailed analysis suggests that there is little change in the aspect ratio of the individual Zn crystals – this is consistent with a growth mechanism in whichmore » previously deposited plates grow in diameter as new plates nucleate on their surface and then coalesce into one crystal.« less

Authors:

Keist, Jayme S. ^[1]; Hammons, Joshua A. ^[2]; Wright, Paul K. ^[3]; Evans, James W. ^[3]; Orme, Christine A. ^[2]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
3. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

Publication Date:

Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

OSTI Identifier:

1811787

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1702329

Report Number(s):

LLNL-JRNL-813115
Journal ID: ISSN 0013-4686; 1019897

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC52-07NA27344; AC02-06CH11357

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Electrochimica Acta

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 342; Journal Issue: na; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-4686

Publisher:

Elsevier

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; materials science; condensed matter physics; storage; ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering; in situ atomic force microscopy; electrodeposition; ionic liquid electrolyte; zinc anode; morphology