title: Nanostructure of the H-terminated p-Si(111)/ionic liquid interface and the effect of added lithium salt.
abstract: Ionic liquids are potential electrolytes for safe lithium-ion batteries (LIB). Recent research has probed the use of silicon as an anode material for LIB with various electrolytes. However, the nanostructure of the ionic liquid/Si interface is unknown. The present communication probes the hydrogen terminated p-Si(111) interface using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethlysulfonyl)amide ([EMIm]TFSA) and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethlysulfonyl)amide ([Py1,4]TFSA). AFM measurements reveal that the imidazolium cation adsorbs at the H-Si(111)/[EMIm]TFSA interface leading to an ordered clustered facet structure of ∼3.8 nm in size. In comparison, the Si(111)/[Py1,4]TFSA interface appeared the same as the native surface in argon. For both pure ILs, repulsive forces were measured as the tip approached the surface. On addition of LiTFSA attractive forces were measured, revealing marked changes in the interfacial structure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. abhishek.lahiri@tu-clausthal.de natalia.borissenko@tu-clausthal.de frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. abhishek.lahiri@tu-clausthal.de natalia.borissenko@tu-clausthal.de frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahiri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. abhishek.lahiri@tu-clausthal.de natalia.borissenko@tu-clausthal.de frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borisenko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. abhishek.lahiri@tu-clausthal.de natalia.borissenko@tu-clausthal.de frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carstens
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. abhishek.lahiri@tu-clausthal.de natalia.borissenko@tu-clausthal.de frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Giridhar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulletikurthi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. abhishek.lahiri@tu-clausthal.de natalia.borissenko@tu-clausthal.de frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Andriy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borodin
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Advanced Fluids and Interfaces, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. abhishek.lahiri@tu-clausthal.de natalia.borissenko@tu-clausthal.de frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Endres