Phase Transformation and Lithiation Effect on Electronic Structure of LixFePO4: an in-depth Study by Soft X-ray and Simulations

Impact Factor:15.419

DOI number:10.1021/ja303225e

Journal:J. Am. Chem. Soc

Key Words:RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM； BATTERIES；ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY；AUGMENTED-WAVE METHOD；ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTIVITY；ABSORPTION-SPECTROSCOPY；MISCIBILITY GAP；LIFEPO4；ION；VISUALIZATION；LI-1-XFEPO4

Abstract:Through soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy, hard X-ray Raman scattering, and theoretical simulations, we provide the most in-depth and systematic study of the phase transformation and (de)lithiation effect on electronic structure in LixFePO4 nanoparticles and single crystals. Soft X-ray reveals directly the valence states of Fe 3d electrons in the vicinity of Fermi level, which is sensitive to the local lattice distortion, but more importantly offers detailed information on the evolution of electronic states at different electrochemical stages. The soft X-ray spectra of LixFePO4 nanoparticles evolve vividly with the (de)lithiation level. The spectra fingerprint the (de)lithiation process with rich information on Li distribution, valency, spin states, and crystal field. The high resolution spectra reveal a subtle but critical deviation from two-phase transformation in our electrochemically prepared samples. In addition, we performed both first principles calculations and multiplet simulations of the spectra and quantitatively determined the 3d valence states that are completely redistributed through (de)lithiation. This electronic reconfiguration was further verified by the polarization-dependent spectra collected on LiFePO4 single crystals, especially along the lithium diffusion direction. The evolution of the 3d states is overall consistent with the local lattice distortion and provides a fundamental picture of the (de)lithiation effects on electronic structure in the LixFePO4 system.

First Author:Xiaosong Liu

Co-author:Jun Liu, Ruimin Qiao, Yan Yu, Hong Li, Liumin Suo, Yongsheng Hu, Yi-De Chuang, Guojiun Shu, Fangcheng Chou, Tsu-Chien Weng, Dennis Nordlund, Dimosthenis Sokaras, Yung Jui Wang, Hsin Lin, Bernardo Barbiellini, Arun Bansil, Xiangyun Song, Zhi Liu, Shishen Yan, Gao Liu, Shan Qiao, Thomas J. Richardson, David Prendergast, Zahid Hussain, Frank M. F. de Groot

Correspondence Author:Wanli Yang

Document Code:13708-13715

Volume:134

Issue:33

Page Number:3708-13715

ISSN No.:0002-7863

Translation or Not:no

Date of Publication:2012-07-26

Links to published journals:https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja303225e