Interaction of Water with Atomic Layer Deposited Titanium Dioxide on p‐Si Photocathode: Modeling of Photoelectrochemical Interfaces in Ultrahigh Vacuum with Cryo‐Photoelectron Spectroscopy

This study combines cryo‐photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis techniques to investigate the p‐Si/SiO₂/TiO₂/H₂O system in the context of water‐splitting. Atomic layer deposition is used for the preparation of a TiO₂ thin film coating for a p‐Si/SiO₂ photocathode. First, an interface experiment is performed to study the contact properties of the interface between p‐Si/SiO₂ and TiO₂. For the p‐Si/TiO₂ heterojunction, a downward band bending of 0.3 eV is found for the p‐Si toward the interface. Second, a water adsorption experiment is conducted, which allows the investigation of the surface chemistry of the TiO₂ coating in contact to water. A direct correlation between the amount of surface hydroxide species, formed due to water dissociation, and Ti³⁺ defect state density is found. Furthermore, a surface water species can be identified in addition to the commonly found bulk molecular water. Together with the results from a Mott–Schottky analysis, a complete energy level alignment can be constructed

Stochastic microstructure modeling of SOC electrodes based on a pluri-Gaussian method

Zugehörige Dateien: https://zenodo.org/records/7744110 https://doi.org/10.1039/D3YA00132F https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-28430Digital Materials Design (DMD) offers new possibilities for data-driven microstructure optimization of solid oxide cells (SOC). Despite the progress in 3D-imaging, experimental microstructure investigations are typically limited to only a few tomography analyses. In this publication, a DMD workflow is presented for extensive virtual microstructure variation, which is based on a limited number of real tomography analyses. Real 3D microstructures, which are captured with FIB-tomography from LSTN-CGO anodes, are used as a basis for stochastic modeling. Thereby, digital twins are constructed for each of the three real microstructures. The virtual structure generation is based on the pluri-Gaussian method (PGM). In order to match the properties of selected virtual microstructures (i.e., digital twins) with real structures, the construction parameters for the PGM-model are determined by interpolation of a database of virtual structures. Moreover, the relative conductivities of the phases are optimized with morphological operations. The digital twins are then used as anchor points for virtual microstructure variation of LSTN-CGO anodes, covering a wide range of compositions and porosities. All relevant microstructure properties are determined using our standardized and automated microstructure characterization procedure, which was recently published. The microstructure properties can then e.g., be used as input for a multiphysics electrode model to predict the corresponding anode performances. This set of microstructure properties with corresponding performances is then the basis to provide design guidelines for improved electrodes. The PGM-based structure generation is available as a new Python app for the GeoDict software package

Standardized microstructure characterization of SOC electrodes as a key element for Digital Materials Design

Performance and durability of solid oxide cell (SOC) electrodes are closely linked to their microstructure properties. Thus, the comprehensive characterization of 3D microstructures e.g., obtained by FIB-SEM tomography is essential for SOC electrode optimization. Recent advances and trends call for a standardized and automated microstructure characterization. Advances in FIB-SEM tomography enable the acquisition of more samples, which are also more frequently shared within the research community due to evolving open science concepts. In addition, the emerging methods for Digital Materials Design (DMD) enable to create numerous virtual but realistic microstructure variations using stochastic microstructure modeling. In this publication, a standardized microstructure characterization tool for SOC electrodes is presented, which is implemented as a Python app for the GeoDict software-package. A large number of microstructure characteristics can be determined with this app, which are relevant for the performance of conventional electrodes like Ni-YSZ and for more recent MIEC-based electrodes. The long list of 3D characteristics that can be determined selectively includes morphological characteristics, interface properties and effective transport properties deduced from morphological predictions and from numerical simulations. The extensive possibilities of the standardized microstructure characterization tool are illustrated for a dataset of three LSTN-CGO anode microstructures reconstructed with FIB-SEM tomography and for a dataset of three virtual sphere-packing structures. The automated microstructure characterization is a key element to exploit the full potential of open science, Digital Materials Design (DMD) and artificial intelligence (AI) for the data-driven optimization of SOC electrodes by providing standardized high quality microstructure property data

Composite conductivity of MIEC-based SOFC anodes : implications for microstructure optimization

Fully ceramic anodes such as LSTN-CGO offer some specific advantages compared to conventional cermet anodes. Ceria- and titanate-based phases are both mixed ionic and electronic conductors (MIEC), which leads to very different reaction mechanisms and associated requirements for the microstructure design compared to e.g. Ni-YSZ. Due to the MIEC-property of both solid phases, the transports of neither the electrons nor the oxygen ions are limited to a single phase. As a consequence, composite MIEC electrodes reveal a remarkable property that can be described as ‘composite conductivity’ (for electrons as well as for ions), which is much higher than the (hypothetical) single phase conductivities of the same microstructure. In composite MIEC anodes, the charge carriers can reach the reaction sites even when the volume fraction of one MIEC phase is below the percolation threshold, because the missing contiguity is automatically bridged by the second MIEC phase. The MIEC properties thus open a much larger design space for microstructure optimization of composite electrodes. In this contribution, the composite conductivities of MIEC-based anodes are systematically investigated based on virtual materials testing and stochastic modeling. For this purpose, a large number of 3D microstructures, representing systematic compositional variations of composite anodes, is created by microstructure modeling. The underlying stochastic model is fitted to experimental data from FIB-SEM tomography. For the fitting of the stochastic model, digital twins of the tomography data are created using the methodology of gaussian random fields. By interpolation between and beyond the digital twin compositions, the stochastic model then allows to create numerous virtual 3D microstructures with different compositions, but with realistic properties. The effect of microstructure variation on the composite conductivity is then determined with transport simulations for each 3D microstructure. Furthermore, the corresponding microstructure effects on the cell-performance are determined with a Multiphysics model that describes the anode reaction mechanism. Especially the impact of the composite conductivities on the cell performance is studied in detail. Finally, microstructure design regions are discussed and compared for three different anode materials systems: titanate-CGO (with composite conductivities), Ni-YSZ (with single-phase conductivities), Ni-CGO (with single-phase ionic and composite electronic conductivities)

Process related effects upon formation of composite electrolyte interfaces: Nitridation and reduction of NASICON-type electrolytes by deposition of LiPON

Commercial NASICON-type electrolyte plates are coated with a thin film of LiPON to obtain a composite electrolyte system with high conductivity at room temperature that can be used in contact with metallic Lithium. The formation of the interface between the NASICON substrate and the LiPON coating is studied using an in-situ X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) surface science approach. The process of LiPON deposition induces changes in the surface chemical structure of the NASICON substrates as observed by XPS, including the partial reduction of Ti and the incorporation of N into the NASICON. The practical impact of the interface formation is studied by impedance spectroscopy, revealing a substantial increase of resistance for LiPON coated samples

Interfacial instability of amorphous LiPON against lithium: A combined Density Functional Theory and spectroscopic study

The chemical instability of the glassy solid electrolyte LiPON against metallic lithium and the occurrence of side reactions at their interface is investigated by combining a surface science approach and quantum-mechanical calculations. Using an evolutionary structure search followed by a melt-quenching protocol, a model for the disordered structure of LiPON is generated and put into contact with lithium. Even the static optimization of a simple model interface suggests that the diffusion of lithium into LiPON is driven by a considerable driving force that could easily take place under experimental conditions. Calculated reaction energies indicate that the reduction and decomposition of LiPON is thermodynamically favorable. By monitoring the evolution of the LiPON core levels as a function of lithium exposure, the disruption of the LiPON network alongside the occurrence of new phases is observed. The direct comparison between UV photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and calculated electronic densities of states for increasing stages of lithiation univocally identifies the new phases as Li_2O, Li_3P and Li_3N. These products are stable against Li metal and form a passivation layer which shields the electrolyte from further decomposition while allowing for the diffusion of Li ions. Interfacial instability of amorphous LiPON against lithium: A combined Density Functional Theory and spectroscopic study. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316112203_Interfacial_instability_of_amorphous_LiPON_against_lithium_A_combined_Density_Functional_Theory_and_spectroscopic_study [accessed May 16, 2017]

Adsorption of ethylene carbonate on lithium cobalt oxide thin films: A synchrotron-based spectroscopic study of the surface chemistry

The surface chemistry of cathodic lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) in contact with the Li-ion battery solvent ethylene carbonate (EC) was studied via synchrotron based soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SXPS). By stepwise in-situ adsorption of EC onto an rf-magnetron sputtered LiCoO2 thin film and consecutive recording of SXPS spectra, the chemical and electronic properties of the interface were determined. EC partially decomposes and forms a predominantly organic adlayer. Prolonged exposure results in the formation of a condensed EC layer, demonstrating that the decomposition layer has passivating properties. Lithium ions deintercalate from the electrode and are dissolved in the adsorbate phase, without forming a large amount of Li-containing reaction products, indicating that electrolyte reduction remains limited. Due to a large offset between the LiCoO2 valence band and the EC HOMO, oxidation of EC molecules is unlikely, and should require energy level shifts due to interaction or double layer effects for real systems

Comprehensive Insights into the Porosity of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes: A Comparative Study on Positive Electrodes Based on LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622)

Porosity is frequently specified as only a value to describe the microstructure of a battery electrode. However, porosity is a key parameter for the battery electrode performance and mechanical properties such as adhesion and structural electrode integrity during charge/discharge cycling. This study illustrates the importance of using more than one method to describe the electrode microstructure of LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622)-based positive electrodes. A correlative approach, from simple thickness measurements to tomography and segmentation, allowed deciphering the true porous electrode structure and to comprehend the advantages and inaccuracies of each of the analytical techniques. Herein, positive electrodes were calendered from a porosity of 44–18% to cover a wide range of electrode microstructures in state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. Especially highly densified electrodes cannot simply be described by a close packing of active and inactive material components, since a considerable amount of active material particles crack due to the intense calendering process. Therefore, a digital 3D model was created based on tomography data and simulation of the inactive material, which allowed the investigation of the complete pore network. For lithium-ion batteries, the results of the mercury intrusion experiments in combination with gas physisorption/pycnometry experiments provide comprehensive insight into the microstructure of positive electrodes

Evidence of the chemical stability of the garnet-type solid electrolyte Li 5 La 3 Ta 2 O 12 towards lithium by a surface science approach

The chemical stability between Li metal and garnet-type solid electrolytes is currently under debate, mainly catalyzed by theoretical studies. Here, we investigate the stability of Li5La3Ta2O12 (LLTaO) towards lithium experimentally. Using a surface science approach, lithium is stepwise evaporated on an LLTaO thin film grown by CO2-laser assisted chemical vapor deposition. By annealing of the LLTaO thin film, the Li2CO3 surface layer can be removed, leaving only small traces of Li2CO3, Li2O2 and Li2O behind. The interface formation of LLTaO towards lithium is then monitored by means of X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Neither reaction products related to decomposition nor structural changes in the matrix of the Ta-based garnet-type solid-electrolyte can be detected, indicating that LLTaO exhibits chemical stability under equilibrium conditions. Furthermore, a model for the energy level alignment at the LLTaO/Li interface is discussed

Water Interaction with Sputter-Deposited Nickel Oxide on n-Si Photoanode: Cryo Photoelectron Spectroscopy on Adsorbed Water in the Frozen Electrolyte Approach

The interaction of water with a magnetron-sputtered nickel oxide thin film on an n-type silicon photoanode is investigated in perspective to oxygen evolution. The substrate was exposed in-situ stepwise to gas phase water up to 10 L at liquid N2 temperature and analyzed via X-ray and UV photoelectron spectroscopy in the so called frozen electrolyte approach. Photoemission of the pristine NiOx layer shows the presence of stoichiometric NiO and Ni2O3 as well as of non-stoichiometric phases. In the monolayer range, molecular and dissociative adsorption is detected assigned to the NiO respective Ni2O3 phase. Initially, the emission of the molecular adsorbed water species interacting with NiO is found at 0.8 eV lower binding energies as compared to water related emission for higher coverages with binding energies commonly assigned to H2O-H2O interaction. In addition to the chemical analysis, the electronic structure of the n-Si/SiOx/NiOx/H2O photoanode is measured and discussed