Underpotential Deposition of Lithium on Platinum Single Crystal Electrodes in Tetrahydrofuran

Abstract

We present the first electrochemical observation/studies of nucleation and underpotential deposition (upd) of lithium in tetrahydrofuran (THF) on platinum single crystals. Electrochemical data using platinum (100) [Ep,c = −3.3 V, and Ep,a = −2.6 V], (110) [Ep,c = −3.0 V, and Ep,a = −2.2 V], and (111) [Ep,c = −1.6 V, and Ep,a = −1.3 V] single crystal electrodes are reported against a standard reference electrode, Fc/Fc+PF6- for use in THF. The study has shown that lithium upd occurs at different characteristic potentials on well-defined crystal planes of platinum electrodes. These studies have significance for the advancement of industrial applications of lithium, for example, in battery/reactor technologies and in organic synthesis.