ELECTROCHEMICAL INTERCALATION OF LITHIUM INTO THIN PYROCARBON LAYERS

The intercalation of lithium from a 1 M LiClO4 solution in a mixture o f propylene carbonate with dimethoxyethane into thin (below 1 mu m) ca rbon films is studied by chronopotentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray diffractometry. The films are prepared by pyrolyzing toluene or methane on nickel or copper substrates. The influence exerted by the p yrolysis conditions on properties of pyrocarbon films and their electr ochemical characteristics, the reversibility of the intercalation-dein tercalation process, and the composition of the LiCx compounds that fo rm in the process is discussed.