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Annealing of LiCoO2 films on flexible stainless steel for thin film lithium batteries

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Abstract

The LiCoO2 films were directly deposited on stainless steel (SS) using medium-frequency magnetron sputtering, and the effects of annealing parameters, such as ambiences, temperatures, holding times, and heating rates, were systematically compared based on surface morphologies, crystal structures, and electrochemical properties. The results demonstrate that an aerobic atmosphere with 3.5 Pa is the most important parameter to maintain the performance of LiCoO2 films. The influence of the annealing temperature (>550 °C) ranks second because the formed (101) or (104) planes of LiCoO2 facilitate Li+ migration. A short holding time of 20 min and a moderate heating rate of 3 °C/min are selected to reduce the oxidation or inter-diffusion between the LiCoO2 films and the SS substrate. Finally, the optimal annealing process is confirmed and corresponds to the initial discharge capacity of 37.56 µA h/(cm2 µm) and the capacity retention of 83.81% at the 50th cycle.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21603204 and 51702305).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Engineering Research Center of Advanced Structural Transparencies for the Modern Traffic System, Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, Beijing, 100095, China

    Yibo Ma, Mu Chen, Yue Yan, Youxiu Wei, Weiming Liu, Xiaofeng Zhang, Jiaming Li, Ziyi Fu, Jiuyong Li & Xuan Zhang

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Ma, Y., Chen, M., Yan, Y. et al. Annealing of LiCoO2 films on flexible stainless steel for thin film lithium batteries. Journal of Materials Research 35, 31–41 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2019.299

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