(1) Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India;(2) Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
Abstract:
Thin films of Sn were deposited on Pt/Si substrates by sputtering technique and subjected to electrochemical lithiation studies.
Electrochemical lithiation of Sn resulted in the formation of Sn–Li alloys of different compositions. Charging of Sn-coated
Pt/Si electrodes was terminated at different potentials and the electrodes were examined for physicochemical properties. The
scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images suggested that the Sn films expanded on lithiation. Roughness
of the film increased with an increase in the quantity of Li present in Sn–Li alloy. Electrochemical impedance data suggested
that the kinetics of charging became sluggish with an increase in the quantity of Li in Sn–Li alloy.