Interface and Safety Properties of Phosphorus-Based Negative Electrodes in Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Phosphorus is considered as a promising candidate for the replacement of graphite as the active material in Li-ion battery electrodes owing to its 6-fold higher theoretical specific charge. Unfortunately, phosphorus-based electrodes suffer from large volume changes upon cycling, leading to poor electrochemical performance. Furthermore, red phosphorus (Pred) is known to release phosphine gas (PH3) once in contact with water (even at the ppm level), and thus, its safety profile needs to be assessed. In this context, the electrolyte/electrode interface of a Pred electrode during the first lithiation is fully investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and online electrochemical mass spectroscopy (OEMS). The XPS analyses reveal that, at potentials higher than 1 V vs Li+/Li, the Pred starts to react via the outermost surface layer, which is mainly composed of the native oxide, P2O5, to form H3PO4. Once this surface oxide is consumed, the Pred reacts with moist...