Impedance Studies of Spinel LiMn2O4 Electrode/electrolyte Interfaces

The formation process of solid electrolyte interphase(SEI) film on spinel LiMn2O4 electrode surface was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) during the initial storage in 1 mol/L LiPF6-EC:DMC:DEC electrolyte and in the subsequent first charge-discharge cycle. It has been demonstrated that the SEI film thickness increased with the increase of storage time and spontaneous reactions occurring between spinel LiMn2O4 electrode and electrolyte can be prevented by the SEI film. In the first charge-discharge cycle succeeding the storage, the electrolyte oxidation coupled with Li-ion insertion is evidenced as the main origin to increase the resistance of SEI film. The results also confirm that the variations of the charge transfer resistance(Rct) with the electrode potential(E) can be well described using a classical equation.