The application of in situ ftir spectroscopy to the study of surface films formed on lithium and noble metals at low potentials in li battery electrolytes

Two approaches for in situ FTIR measurements of active and noble metal surfaces in Li battery electrolytes (propylene carbonate, ethers, and r-butyrolactone and Li salts) have been developed. Both methods are based on internal reflectance spectroscopy with working electrodes of thin noble metal films deposited on ZnSe or NaCl crystals. Thus the study of surface films formed on the active surfaces at low potentials in solutions and their potential dependent stability is fostered, while the masking effect of strong solution IR bands is mostly eliminated.