Formation of Solid Electrolyte Interface on Cycled Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes: Soft X-ray Absorption Study

Published

May 3, 2002

Author(s)

Mahalingam Balasubramanian, James McBreen, Xiao-Qing Yang, H S. Lee, A R. Moodenbaugh, Daniel A. Fischer, Ziwen Fu, D Abraham

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are promising candidates for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). Batteries that exceed the requirements for HEV, as set by the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), have been designed and built. These batteries are based on thin LiNi_0.15O₂ cathodes, thin carbonaceous anodes, and a 1 M LiFF₆ ethylene carbonate (EC): diethyl carbonate (DEC) (1:1) electrolyte. A major technical barrier is that the batteries lose their high power capability during use or prolonged storage, particularly at elevated temperatures. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicates that the power fade is due to an increase in cathode impedance in cycled and abused cells. X-ray diffraction and hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy clearly shows that the bulk of the cathode material is largely intact. It is conceivable that the power fade is related to electrolyte decomposition products that are formed on the surface of the cathode. The decomposition products from the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) and might affect ionic motion by pore plugging, or could contribute to resistive electrical paths to parts of the cathode structure. Although the presence of a SEI on the cathode has long been suspected, confirmation of such a layer has proved elusive. In order to study the nature of the SEI layer it is important to use structural techniques with some surface sensitivity. We have explored the use of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy to study the nature of the SEI layers in lithium-ion battery cathodes.

Proceedings Title

Extended abstract/proceedings of the Electrochemical Society Meeting

Volume

5

Conference Dates

April 27-28, 2002

Conference Location

Paris, FR

Conference Title

Electrochemical Society

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

cathode, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), lithium-ion batteries, solik electrolyte intervace (SEI)

Citation

Balasubramanian, M. , McBreen, J. , Yang, X. , Lee, H. , Moodenbaugh, A. , Fischer, D. , Fu, Z. and Abraham, D. (2002), Formation of Solid Electrolyte Interface on Cycled Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes: Soft X-ray Absorption Study, Extended abstract/proceedings of the Electrochemical Society Meeting, Paris, FR (Accessed October 10, 2025)