Structural and electrochemical investigation of Fex Si1-x thin films in Li cells

Zhijia Du, R. A. Dunlap, M. N. Obrovac

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fex Si1-x thin films with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.46 have been prepared by combinatorial sputtering and their electrochemical properties have been studied in Li half-cells. X-ray diffraction showed that all of the films had an amorphous structure. Mössbauer effect spectra suggest that Fe was diluted in amorphous Si for x ≤ 0.23 and inactive FeSi2 was formed with further increase in x. For x ≤ 0.23, all Si in the thin films was active toward lithiation/delithiation. At higher Fe contents, the capacity of Fe-Si thin films dropped rapidly and no capacity was observed for x greater than 0.33. The voltage curve of Si to become depressed during lithiation with increasing Fe content, which may be the result of stress induced between the active Si phase and inactive phases in the alloy. For alloys with x > 0.23, the formation of inactive FeSi2 removes active Si from the alloy and results in the lowering of the reversible capacity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)A2011-A2016
JournalJournal of the Electrochemical Society
Volume163
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

Funding

The authors acknowledge funding from NSERC and 3 M Canada, Co. under the auspices of the Industrial Research Chair program. We also acknowledge the support of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Atlantic Innovation Fund and other partners that fund the Facilities for Materials Characterization managed by the Institute for Research in Materials. ZD acknowledges financial support from the Killam Trusts.

FundersFunder number
Atlantic Innovation Fund
Institute for Materials Research, Ohio State University
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Killam Trusts

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