%0 Journal Article
%K Electrolytes
%K Lithium
%K Electrochemical electrodes
%K Photothermal spectroscopy
%K Foils
%K Infrared spectroscopy
%K Interface phenomena
%K Probes
%A Zhongyi Deng
%A Jonathan D Spear
%A James D Rudnicki
%A Frank R McLarnon
%A Elton J Cairns
%B Journal of the Electrochemical Society
%D 1996
%G eng
%N 5
%P 1514-1521
%R 10.1149/1.1836672
%T Infrared photothermal deflection spectroscopy: A new probe for the investigation of electrochemical interfaces
%V 143
%8 05/1996
%X <p>An infrared photothermal deflection spectroscopy system has been developed using infrared tunable diode lasers in the wavelength region from 8 to 16 μm. This system allows the collection of <em>in situ</em> optical absorption spectra of species at electrode/electrolyte interfaces in an electrochemical cell. The infrared spectra of LiOH and Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> formed on the surface of a lithium foil were recorded. The infrared photothermal deflection spectroscopy technique has been used to monitor the lithium electrode surface in an operating cell, Li/<em>P</em>(<em>EO</em>)<sub>8</sub>LiN(<em>CF</em><sub>3</sub><em>SO</em><sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>/Ni. The <em>in situ</em> spectra (in the 800-1000cm<sup>-1</sup> region) show that the film formation at Li/polymer electrolyte interfaces is dominated by LiOH, although there also appears to be organic species in the surface film.</p>