Operando Terahertz Spectroscopy of Solid Electrolyte Interphase Evolution on Silicon Anodes

The in-situ characterization of materials and interphases of battery electrodes is of crucial importance for the basic understanding of the complex, simultaneous processes that take place during the operation of secondary batteries. Here we present, for the first time, the use of a Terahertz (THz) time-domain-spectroscopy method for the operando characterization of the silicon/electrolyte interfacial phenomena and dynamics in a working lithium-ion battery. Strong correlation between the THz, XPS, and electrochemical data was established, allowing us to monitor the formation and evolution of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during the reversible lithiation of the silicon anode.