Characterization of pulsed laser-deposited LiMn O thin films for 2 4 rechargeable lithium batteries

The structure and characteristics of thin films of Li Mn O spinel prepared by pulsed laser deposition are reported. x 2 4 X-Ray Diffraction XRD., Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy RBS.and Nuclear Reaction Analysis NRA.show that the lithium content of the film is very sensitive to the conditions of deposition. A large target–substrate distance 9 cm.and a stoichiometric LiMn2O4 target lead to lithium deficient films, whereas lithium excess films are obtained for a shorter target–substrate distance 5 cm.and a target prepared with excess lithium 10% excess.. SEM and AFM measurements show that the films are dense and quite rough. The local structure of the films was studied by infrared spectroscopy. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy spectrum of LiMn2O4 consists of 2 major bands, the positions of which depend on the thickness of the film. The evolution of the FT-IR spectrum of Li Mn O over the temperature range y1508C to 2508C x 2 4 clearly shows the previously reported temperature-induced Jahn–Teller distortion between O and 108C. q1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.