ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF LIMN2O4 AND LICOO2 THIN-FILMS PRODUCED WITH PULSED-LASER DEPOSITION

Thin films of LixMn2O4 and LixCoO2 have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition on heated stainless steel substrates. These films have thic knesses from 0.2 to 1.5 mu m and are crystalline without postdepositio n annealing. The films' electrochemical properties were studied with c yclic voltammetry, current pulse measurements, and galvanostatic charg e/discharge techniques. Film capacity densities as high as 56 and 62 m u Ah/cm(2)-mu m were measured for LixMn2O4 and LixCoO2, respectively. Chemical diffusivities on the order of 2.5 x 10(-11) and 1 x 10(-10) w ere measured for LixMn2O4 and LixCoO2, respectively. Some of the films were cycled electrochemically for up to 300 cycles against lithium me tal in 1 M LiClO4/propylene carbonate electrolyte, demonstrating the p romise of pulsed laser deposition for the production of cathode films for rechargeable lithium microbatteries.