@article{25192,
  keywords = {Spectroscopic ellipsometry, Hydrofluoric acid, LiPF6 degradation, Lithium-ion batteries},
  author = {Simon F Lux and Ivan T Lucas and Elad Pollak and Stefano Passerini and Martin Winter and Robert Kostecki},
  title = {The mechanism of HF formation in LiPF<sub>6</sub> based organic carbonate electrolytes},
  abstract = {<p>Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to study the time-dependent formation of HF upon the thermal degradation of LiPF<sub>6</sub> at 50 °C in a lithium ion battery electrolyte containing ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate. The generated HF was monitored by following the etching rate of a 300 nm thick SiO<sub>2</sub> layer, grown on both sides of a silicon wafer substrate, as a function of the immersion time in the electrolyte at 50 °C. It was found that the formation of HF starts after 70 h of exposure time and occurs following several different phases. The amount of generated HF was calculated using an empirical formula correlating the etching rate to the temperature. Combining the results of the HF formation with literature data, a simplified mechanism for the formation of the HF involving LiPF<sub>6</sub> degradation, and a simplified catalytical reaction pathway of the formed HF and silicon dioxide are proposed to describe the kinetics of HF formation.</p>},
  year = {2012},
  journal = {Electrochemistry Communications},
  volume = {14},
  pages = {47-50},
  month = {01/2012},
  doi = {10.1016/j.elecom.2011.10.026},
  language = {eng},
}