H. Li et al., Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study on passivating films of Ag electrodes in lithium batteries, J PHYS CH B, 104(35), 2000, pp. 8477-8480
Li/Ag and Li/Al electrochemical cells composed of smooth Ag or Al electrode
sheets, respectively, and matched with nonaqueous electrolytes were assemb
led and discharged. Discharged Ag electrodes were investigated using micro-
Raman spectromety. Raman bands attributed to the components of the passivat
ing film on the surface of the discharged Ag electrode, such as Li2CO3 and
other species, were observed. No characteristic bands from discharged Al el
ectrodes were present in the Raman spectra. This indicates that the Raman s
ignals for the passivating layer are surface-enhanced by discharged Ag elec
trodes. The formation of a nanometer-scale rough surface caused by a Li-Ag
alloy reaction during the discharging process is an important factor in the
enhancement. It was also shown that the passivating films formed in variou
s electrolytes could be distinguished by SERS.