In Situ AFM Measurements of the Expansion of Nanostructured Sn–Co–C Films Reacting with Lithium

The volume changes vs lithium content of nanostructured thin films with different compositions have been measured using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments. For the films studied, the Co content, , varied and the carbon content, , varied . In all cases the volume varied linearly with lithium content, and the maximum volume expansion ranged from 142 to 204%, depending on the initial composition, for compositions with . The experimental values have been compared with theoretical estimates calculated based on for the alloyed Li atoms as proposed by Obrovac [ J. Electrochem. Soc. , 154 , A849 (2007)] . The agreement is excellent except for the sample that has , or 79% carbon.