Microstructural evolution induced by micro-cracking during fast lithiation of single-crystalline silicon Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We report observations of microstructural changes in {100} and {110} oriented silicon wafers during initial lithiation under relatively high current densities. Evolution of the microstructure during lithiation was found to depend on the crystallographic orientation of the silicon wafers. In {110} silicon wafers, the phase boundary between silicon and LixSi remained flat and parallel to the surface. In contrast, lithiation of the {100} oriented substrate resulted in a complex vein-like microstructure of LixSi in a crystalline silicon matrix. A simple calculation demonstrates that the formation of such structures is energetically unfavorable in the absence of defects due to the large hydrostatic stresses that develop. However, TEM observations revealed micro-cracks in the {100} silicon wafer, which can create fast diffusion paths for lithium and contribute to the formation of a complex vein-like LixSi network. This defect-induced microstructure can significantly affect the subsequent delithiation and following cycles, resulting in degradation of the electrode. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES

author list (cited authors)

  • Choi, Y. S., Pharr, M., Kang, C. S., Son, S., Kim, S. C., Kim, K., ... Vlassak, J. J.

citation count

  • 30

complete list of authors

  • Choi, Yong Seok||Pharr, Matt||Kang, Chan Soon||Son, Seoung-Bum||Kim, Seul Cham||Kim, Kee-Bum||Roh, Hyunchul||Lee, Se-Hee||Oh, Kyu Hwan||Vlassak, Joost J

publication date

  • January 2014