Single nanowire electrode electrochemistry of silicon anode by in situ atomic force microscopy: solid electrolyte interphase growth and mechanical properties.
Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) have attracted great attention as promising anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) on account of their high capacity and improved cyclability compared with bulk silicon. The interface behavior, especially the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), plays a significant role in the performance and stability of the electrodes. We report herein an in situ single nanowire atomic force microscopy (AFM) method to investigate the interface electrochemistry of silicon nanowire (SiNW) electrode. The morphology and Young's modulus of the individual SiNW anode surface during the SEI growth were quantitatively tracked. Three distinct stages of the SEI formation on the SiNW anode were observed. On the basis of the potential-dependent morphology and Young's modulus evolution of SEI, a mixture-packing structural model was proposed for the SEI film on SiNW anode.
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China.
Xing-Rui
XR
Liu
Xin
X
Deng
Ran-Ran
RR
Liu
Hui-Juan
HJ
Yan
Yu-Guo
YG
Guo
Dong
D
Wang
Li-Jun
LJ
Wan
Li-ion battery; in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM); single Si nanowire anode; solid electrolyte interphase (SEI)