The “skin” of the lithium : operando analysis of the passive layer formation

Energy storage devices are essential components for the incoming massive electrification of the car fleet. “Anode-free” battery is the holy grail in battery research domain, where the only source of lithium is initially present in the positive electrode material (e.g. LiNMC). A simple copper current collector is used at the negative side to ensure the Li plating. In this work, we propose to investigate the formation and properties of the SEI as function of the (negative) electrode potential (1 to 0 V vs Li+/Li) in operando mode coupling grazing incidence X-ray scattering techniques with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Additionally, nucleation and growth of lithium (orientation, size, texture) will be analyzed by further decreasing the applied potential below 0 V vs Li+/Li. Finally, the potential will be relaxed, and the kinetics of the corrosion process (nuclei dissolution) will be characterized.