MICROELECTRODE STUDIES OF THE LITHIUM PROPYLENE CARBONATE SYSTEM .2. STUDIES OF BULK LITHIUM DEPOSITION AND DISSOLUTION

The deposition and dissolution of lithium in propylene carbonate/lithium hexafluoroarsenate has been investigated using voltammetry at nickel microdisc electrodes. It is shown that lithium is deposited by a nucleation and growth mechanism and both deposition and dissolution occurs at low over-potentials. The kinetics of the Li/Li+ couple are rapid and the I-E response may be fitted to a model involving simple electron transfer; there is no experimental evidence to support an important role for a surface film. Lithium layers up to 50 mum thick have been electroplated onto a nickel disc (diameter 5 mm) and studied using optical microscopy: the stability of lithium foil in the medium has also been monitored. This paper attempts to correlate the results at microelectrodes and larger electrodes.