O. Pensado-rodriguez et al., Electrochemical behavior of lithium in alkaline aqueous electrolytes - I. Thermodynamics, J ELCHEM SO, 146(4), 1999, pp. 1318-1325
Detailed potential/pH stability diagrams for the lithium-water system at 25
degrees C have been derived as part of a program to describe the electroch
emistry of the lithium anode in aqueous alkaline environments. The diagrams
include lithium hydride as a stable solid phase at sufficiently negative p
otentials, and it is postulated that the passive film on Li in contact with
concentrated alkaline solutions, under open-circuit conditions, comprises
a LiH barrier layer covered with a hydrated LiOH outer layer. The postulate
d existence of Li2O as a barrier layer, under open-circuit conditions, is i
nconsistent with the thermodynamic data for metallic lithium in contact wit
h concentrated LiOH and LiOH + KOH solutions. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical
Society. S0013-4651(98)05-080-0. All rights reserved.