Visualizing non-equilibrium lithiation of spinel oxide via in situ transmission electron microscopy.

ABSTRACT: Spinel transition metal oxides are important electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, whose lithiation undergoes a two-step reaction, whereby intercalation and conversion occur in a sequential manner. These two reactions are known to have distinct reaction dynamics, but it is unclear how their kinetics affects the overall electrochemical response. Here we explore the lithiation of nanosized magnetite by employing a strain-sensitive, bright-field scanning transmission electron microscopy approach. This method allows direct, real-time, high-resolution visualization of how lithiation proceeds along specific reaction pathways. We find that the initial intercalation process follows a two-phase reaction sequence, whereas further lithiation leads to the coexistence of three distinct phases

SUBMITTER: He K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4865808 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature