Thickness Effect on the Three-Dimensional Sculptured SiCu Thin Films Used as Negative Electrodes in Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

SiCu (10 %at. Cu) composite three dimensional sculptured films with different thicknesses have been fabricated by an ion-assisted glancing angle co-deposition technique. The films have been evaluated as anodes considering morphological and structural differences depending on the different evaporation durations. The galvanostatic tests show that after 50th cycles the thin film delivers 2124 mAh g−1, but the thick electrode performs 685 mAh g−1 as dicharge capacities. It is believed that the thin film electrode has a better electrochemical performance because increase in process time causes deformation in the helice’s morphology, increase in ohmic resistance and generation of more stress in the electrode.