Reversible Li-Ion Conversion Reaction for a Ti_xGe Alloy in a Ti/Ge Multilayer

Group IV intermetallics electrochemically alloy with Li with stoichiometries as high as Li_4.4M (M = Si, Ge, Sn, or Pb). This provides the second highest known specific capacity (after pure lithium metal) for lithium-ion batteries, but the dramatic volume change during cycling greatly limits their use as anodes in Li-ion batteries. We describe an approach to overcome this limitation by constructing electrodes using a Ge/Ti multilayer architecture. In operando X-ray reflectivity and ex situ transmission electron microscopy are used to characterize the heterolayer structure at various lithium stoichiometries along a lithiation/delithiation cycle. The as-deposited multilayer spontaneously forms a one-dimensional Ti_xGe/Ti/Ti_xGe core-shell planar structure embedded in a Ge matrix. The interfacial Ti_xGe alloy is observed to be electrochemically active and exhibits reversible phase separation (i.e., a conversion reaction). Including the germanium components, the overall multilayer structure exhibits a 2.3-fold reversible vertical expansion and contraction and is shown to have improved capacity and capacity retention with respect to a Ge film with equivalent active material thickness.