Titanium Carboxylate Molecular Layer Deposited Hybrid Films as Protective Coatings for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The lifetime of lithium-ion batteries can be extended by applying protective coatings to the cathode's surface. Many studies explore atomic layer deposition (ALD) for this purpose. However, the complementary molecular layer deposition (MLD) technique might offer the benefit of depositing hybrid coatings that are flexible and can accommodate potential volume changes of the electrode during charging and discharging of the battery. This study reports the deposition of titanium carboxylate thin films via MLD. The structure and stability of the hybrid films are studied by using Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of two titanium carboxylate films and a "titanicone" MLD film, deposited by using TDMAT and glycerol, are evaluated on top of a TiO₂, TiN, and LiMn₂O₄ electrode. The coatings are found to present good lithium-ion kinetics and to reduce electrolyte decomposition. Overall, the titanium carboxylate films deposited in this work seem promising as protective and elastic coatings for future high-energy lithium-ion battery cathodes.