A nanocrystalline NiO thin-film electrode prepared by pulsed laser ablation for Li-ion batteries

Nanocrystalline NiO thin-film electrodes were prepared by reactive pulsed laser ablation of a metallic Ni target in an oxygen ambient. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy measurements demonstrated that the films deposited on stainless steel substrate exhibited nanocrystalline structure with average particle size of similar to30 nm. Electrochemical properties of NiO films were examined by cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge measurements. Excellent electrochemical performance, a reversible capacity as high as 700 mAh/g in the range of 0.01-3.0 V at high current density (80 muA/cm(2)) with a high capacity retention up to 100 cycles, could be achieved with optimized NiO films. The improved specific capacity, discharge rate, and cycling performance might be related to the nanosized character of the thin-film electrode of NiO. Combining the XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results, we proposed an electrochemical replacement reaction mechanism for the nanocrystalline NiO film with lithium during the discharge/charge processes. This NiO thin film could be used as a promising anode material for all-solid-state thin film rechargeable Li-ion batteries. (C) 2002 The Electrochemical Society.