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Additional Lithium Storage on Dynamic Electrode Surface by Charge Redistribution in Inactive Ru Metal

Journal
Small
Date
2019.12.01
Abstract
Beyond a traditional view that metal nanoparticles formed upon electrochemical reaction are inactive against lithium, recently their electrochemical participations are manifested and elucidated as catalytic and interfacial effects. Here, we prepare ruthenium metal composed of ~5 nm nanoparticles and design the pure ruthenium as a lithium-ion battery anode for complete understanding on anomalous lithium storage reaction mechanism. In particular, the pure metal electrode is intended for eliminating the electrochemical reaction-derived Li2O phase accompanied by catalytic Li2O decomposition and the interfacial lithium storage at Ru/Li2O phase boundary, and thereby focusing on the ruthenium itself in exploring its electrochemical reactivity. Intriguingly, unusual lithium storage not involving redox reactions with electron transfer but leading to lattice expansion is identified in the ruthenium electrode. Size-dependent charge redistribution at surface enables additional lithium adsorption to occur on the inactive but more environmentally sensitive nanoparticles, providing innovative insight into dynamic electrode environments in rechargeable lithium chemistry.
Reference
Small 2019, 1905868
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.201905868