ERD measurement of depth profiles of H and Li in Pt-coated LiCoO2 thin films

By combining elastic recoil detection (ERD) analysis with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) using 9.0-MeV oxygen-ion (O4+) probe beams from a tandem accelerator, we simultaneously investigated the distributions of lithium (Li), hydrogen (H), cobalt (Co), and platinum (Pt) in 20 nm Pt/260 nm LiCoO2 multi-layer thin films acting as the positive electrode in a solid-state Li+ ion battery and, deposited on Li1.4Ti2Si0.4P2.6O12-AlPO4 (LATP) substrates by using pulsed laser deposition. Measurement of the ERD and RBS spectra revealed the effects of Pt deposition on the hydrogen absorption characteristics of the LiCoO2 thin films, with segregation of Co to the surface as a catalyst. We speculate from the results that the presence of H in the LiCoO2 thin films has a marked influence on Li+ ion conduction in Li-battery systems.