Multinuclear NMR Study of the Solid Electrolyte Interface on the Li-FeSn2 Negative Electrodes for Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

The composition of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on the Li-FeSn2 negative electrode has been determined by a multinuclear solid state NMR study. The strong e-nuclear dipolar and contact interactions between the as-formed superparamagnetic Fe nanoparticles and the SEI layer allows a layer wise observation highly depending on the proximity. Li+ from LiPF6, which is traditionally considered as a postdeposited product from the electrolyte solution,has been observed as presenting different solvation states by 19F → 7Li cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR. Direct contact between LiOH and LixSn or Fe nanoparticles is suggested by Fermi-Contact shifts of −11 and −2 ppm observed in 7Li and 1H NMR spectra, respectively. The LixSn alloy signal remains invisible to 7Li NMR due to the close proximity to the Fe nanoparticles. Effects of different discharging rates and aging at the discharge state are discussed as well.