Interfacial Reactions of Intercalation Electrodes in Lithium Ion Batteries

Gaining a thorough understanding of the electrochemical interface in lithium ion batteries is essential for the development of a common strategy for the material design. This comprehensive paper presents the interfacial reaction analyses between intercalation electrodes and organic electrolytes using an epitaxial-film model electrode and in situ surface scattering techniques. The crystal structures of the intercalation electrodes drastically change in 10 nm-regions from the top of the electrode surface when soaked to the electrolyte and are reconstructed during the initial electrochemical reaction, which is accompanied with formation of a solid electrolyte interface layer. The reconstructed interfaces have a pronounced effect on the power characteristics and the stability at the subsequent electrochemical cycles.