Kerr gated Raman spectroscopy of LiPF6 salt and LiPF6-based organic carbonate electrolyte for Li-ion batteries.

Fluorescent species are formed during cycling of lithium ion batteries as a result of electrolyte decomposition due to the instability of the non-aqueous electrolytes and side reactions that occur at the electrode surface. The increase in the background fluorescence due to the presence of these components makes it harder to analyse data due to the spectroscopic overlap of Raman scattering and fluorescence. Herein, Kerr gated Raman spectroscopy was shown to be an effective technique for the isolation of the scattering effect from the fluorescence enabling the collection of the Raman spectra of LiPF6 salt and LiPF6-based organic carbonate electrolyte, without the interference of the fluorescence component. Kerr gated Raman was able to identify POF3 on the LiPF6 particle surface, after the addition of trace water.

Shell isolated nanoparticles for enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies in lithium-oxygen cells.

A critical and detailed assessment of using Shell Isolated Nanoparticles for Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SHINERS) on different electrode substrates was carried out, providing relative enhancement factors, as well as an evaluation of the distribution of shell-isolated nanoparticles upon the electrode surfaces. The chemical makeup of surface layers formed upon lithium metal electrodes and the mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction on carbon substrates relevant to lithium-oxygen cells are studied with the employment of the SHINERS technique. SHINERS enhanced the Raman signal at these surfaces showing a predominant Li2O based layer on lithium metal in a variety of electrolytes. The formation of LiO2 and Li2O2, as well as degradation reactions forming Li2CO3, upon planar carbon electrode interfaces and upon composite carbon black electrodes were followed under potential control during the reduction of oxygen in a non-aqueous electrolyte based on dimethyl sulfoxide.

In situ Raman spectroscopy of carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 anode material in Li-ion batteries - investigation of SEI growth.

The (de)lithiation process of carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 has been investigated by in situ Raman spectroscopy. Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) products were detected. Their detection may result from a temporary surface enhancement Raman effect from Zn nanoparticles formed in the conversion reaction at a potential that coincides with SEI formation.

Quantized electron-transfer pathways at nanoparticle-redox centre hybrids.

Hexanethiolate gold monolayer-protected clusters (C6-MPCs) with an average core diameter of 1.8 nm and a capacitance of 0.6 aF are synthesised by a two-phase method. These clusters are functionalised with (6-ferrocenyl)-1-hexanethiol by a place exchange reaction at different molar ratios. The average number of ferrocene centres per cluster determined by (1)H NMR is ten, seven and four. Differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry measurements for cluster solutions in 0.1 M TBAPF(6)/Tol:AN (2:1) clearly show the response of the Fc(+)/Fc redox couple and of quantized double layer (QDL) charging events of the gold core. A transition from single to multiple electron-transfer response for the redox couple is observed as the number of ferrocene units per cluster is increased. The distances between the redox moieties are estimated considering a homogeneous distribution of the redox sites on the nanoparticle ligand shell. In all the cases, the inter-ferrocene average separation is too large to observe self-exchange reactions and the most likely electron-transfer pathway is by fast rotational diffusion. The oxidation of the ferrocene groups results in an electrostatic switching-off of electron transfers between the electrode and the nanoparticle core.