Structural and compositional characteristics of nanocrystalline nichrome thin film as anode for lithium battery

Abstract

New materials hold the key to fundamental advances in energy conversion and storage. Nanomaterials in particular offer unique properties or combinations of properties as electrodes and electrolytes in a range of energy devices. Technological improvements in rechargeable solid-state batteries are being driven by an ever-increasing demand for portable electronic devices. Lithium-ion batteries are the systems of choice, offering high energy density, flexible and lightweight design, and longer lifespan than comparable battery technologies. Recent studies of lithium ion batteries focus on improving electrochemical performance of electrode materials and lowering cost. Considerable improved electrochemical performance of the electrode materials have been achieved. There are still problems needing further investigation including theoretical aspects, which will in the meanwhile stimulate the investigation for better electrode materials. Throughout the search for carbon alternatives, much effort has been devoted to the use of metal alloys. We present a nanocrystalline films of nichrome alloy deposited on ceramic substrates as anode for the development of lithium-based rechargeable batteries. Low cost anode materials having a high electrochemical efficiency have been critical in the success of thin film batteries that are applicable in ubiquitous environments as a portable energy source. Which has also many advantages advantages include (i) better accommodation of the strain of lithium insertion/removal, improving cycle life (ii) new reactions not possible with bulk materials (iii) higher electrode / electrolyte contact area leading to higher charge/discharge rates (iv) short path lengths for electronic transport (permitting operation with low electronic conductivity or at higher power) and (v) short path lengths for Li+ transport. This current work is intended to demonstrate the characteristics of Ni-Cr anode thin films (thickness < 400nm) prepared by RF magnetron sputtering. The characteristics of resulting thin films were found to interesting. Surface roughness and band gap, grain size has been confirmed by SEM, AFM and UV-VIS-IR spectrometer. Structure composition and the properties of the film is the major focus of this presentation. The crystallite sizes as determined by FWHM of XRD peaks confirm particle growth in the range of 15 to 20nm also confirmed by TEM. Composition is identified by EDAX.