Nanosize Effect on the Electrochemical Properties of Electrode

These results clearly demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy is more powerful than X-ray diffraction analysis for detecting the local structure of nanocrystalline electrode materials. By combining X-ray diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy, we can clarify the detailed structural properties of nanocrystalline electrode materials. 

The above discussion described the nanosize effect on the structural and physical properties of nanocrystalline LiCo02. It is important to know whether the structural and physical nanosize effects affect the electrochemical properties. In this section, we discuss the electrochemical properties of nanocrystalline LiCo02. 

If a Li -electron pair is intercalated into a host electrode under the potential difference E [V vs. Li/Li ] with a Li metal anode, the work done within the electrochemical cell, -eE, must be equal to the free energy change of the electrode  

n is the number of intercalated Li atoms, and dCeiectrode/ dn is the free energy change of the electrode during Li intercalation, usually defined as the Li chemical potential, pu. Thus, directly determines the voltage of the electrochemical cell in the equilibrium state. The Li chemical potential can be separated into contributions from the enthalpy H and entropy 5 of the electrode, giving 

Considering the simplest case — all the sites have same Li-site energy — n Li atoms occupy N Li-sites randomly  

---