Electrochemical study of nanometer Co3O4, Co, CoSb3 and Sb thin films toward lithium

The recent interest in reversible conversion reaction process versus lithium in transition metal oxides raises a fundamental question regarding the role played by the metallic cobalt or the electrolyte. In this work, we report on the electrochemical reactivity of cobalt oxide and antimonide, metallic cobalt and antimony thin films toward lithium. Nanometer thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using a stoichiometric target. The obtained films were characterized from their chemical and electrochemical properties by means of various complementary techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), electronic microscopy and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM).