Formation of lithiated gold and its use for the preparation of reference electrodes — an EQCM study

Abstract Lithiated gold wires can be used to build reference electrodes with outstanding potential stabilities over several days and even over the course of one year. These electrodes are well suited for investigations in the context of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, a detailed procedure for the preparation of such electrodes with tailored mechanical properties, which can be fitted gastight into electrochemical cells using commercially available fittings, is given. The electrochemical lithiation process is studied using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) technique, and the differences in lithiation of wire type and thin film type gold electrodes are discussed. All experiments were carried out with two different electrolytes, namely, a LiPF 6 and a lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI)-based electrolyte, and we conclude that for a higher lithiation rate and long-term stability, the use of LiTFSI-based electrolyte in the preparation phase is beneficial. The EQCM data provides a better insight in the analysis of film formation processes, like the buildup of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during the lithiation, the rate of deposition of metallic lithium, or additional information on the kinetics of Li-Au alloy formation.