Direct-write Lithiation of Silicon Using a Focused Ion Beam of Li+

Published

July 8, 2019

Author(s)

William R. McGehee, Evgheni Strelcov, Vladimir P. Oleshko, Christopher L. Soles, Nikolai B. Zhitenev, Jabez J. McClelland

Abstract

Electrochemical processes that govern the performance of lithium ion batteries involve numerous parallel reactions and interfacial phenomena that complicate the microscopic understanding of these systems. As a new way to study the behavior of ion transport and reaction in these applications, we report the use of a focused ion beam of Li+ to locally insert controlled quantities of lithium with high spatial-resolution into electrochemically relevant materials in vacuo. To benchmark the technique, we present results on direct-write lithiation of 35 nm thick crystalline silicon membranes using a 2 keV beam of Li+ at doses up to 1018 cm-2 (104 nm-2). We confirm quantitative sub-μm control of lithium insertion and characterize the concomitant morphological, structural and functional changes of the system using a combination of electron and scanning probe microscopy. We observe saturation of interstitial lithium in the silicon membrane at ≈ 10 % dopant number density and spillover of excess lithium onto the membrane’s surface. The implanted Li+ is demonstrated to remain electrochemically active. This technique will enable controlled studies and improve understanding of Li+ ion interaction with local defect structures and interfaces in electrode and solid-electrolyte materials.

Citation

ACS Nano

Volume

13

Issue

7

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.9b02766

Keywords

Focused ion beams, ion implantation, nanoscale electrochemistry, Li-ion battery, transmission electron microscopy, KPFM

Citation

McGehee, W. , Strelcov, E. , Oleshko, V. , Soles, C. , Zhitenev, N. and McClelland, J. (2019), Direct-write Lithiation of Silicon Using a Focused Ion Beam of Li+, ACS Nano, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.9b02766 (Accessed October 18, 2025)