Solid‐State Electrochemical Kinetics of Li‐Ion Intercalation into Li1 − x CoO2: Simultaneous Application of Electroanalytical Techniques SSCV, PITT, and EIS

The electroanalytical behavior of thin electrodes is elucidated by the simultaneous application of three electroanalytical techniques: slow‐scan‐rate cyclic voltammetry (SSCV), potentiostatic intermittent titration technique, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The data were treated within the framework of a simple model expressed by a Frumkin‐type sorption isotherm. The experimental SSCV curves were well described by an equation combining such an isotherm with the Butler‐Volmer equation for slow interfacial Li‐ion transfer. The apparent attraction constant was −4.2, which is characteristic of a quasi‐equilibrium, first‐order phase transition. Impedance spectra reflected a process with the following steps: ion migration in solution, ion migration through surface films, strongly potential‐dependent charge‐transfer resistance, solid‐state diffusion, and accumulation of the intercalants into the host materials. An excellent fit was found between these spectra and an equivalent circuit, including a Voigt‐type analog ( migration through multilayer surface films and charge transfer) in series with a finite‐length Warburg‐type element ( solid‐state diffusion), and a capacitor (Li accumulation). In this paper, we compare the solid‐state diffusion time constants and the differential intercalation capacities obtained by the three electroanalytical techniques. © 1999 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.