LiF Artifacts in XPS Analysis of the SEI for Lithium Metal Batteries

The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is considered to be the key to the performance of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). The analysis of the SEI and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) composition (especially F 1s spectra) by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has become a consensus among researchers. However, the surface-sensitive XPS characterization is susceptible to LiF artifacts due to several factors, leading to the overexaggerated role of LiF in the analysis of the SEI and CEI. In this paper, we conduct a systematic study on the reasons for the LiF artifacts in the XPS characterization of LMBs. The decomposition of the SEI and CEI components under argon ion sputtering, the reaction between Li2CO3…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 21576301, 51973244, 22478151, 22075102
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province

  Award: 2023A1515010921