Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements of lithium-aluminum alloy in a glyme-lithium salt molten complex

Lithium-aluminum alloying reaction was investigated in lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide triglyme solvate ionic liquid as a model system for the negative electrode of lithium secondary batteries. The formation of β-phase LiAl was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The potential of α+β coexisting region was approximately 0.35 V vs. Li/Li(I). The slow relaxation of open circuit voltage and scanning electron microscope images suggested the inhomogeneous alloying reaction along with the active sites. The mass changes with doping and undoping of Li were measured qualitatively by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance technique.