inorganics Article Pulsed Current Electrodeposition of Silicon Thin Films Anodes for Lithium Ion Battery Applications Bharat Gattu 1, Rigved Epur 2, Pavithra Murugavel Shanti 1, Prashanth Hanumantha Jampani 3, Ramalinga Kuruba 3, Moni Kanchan Datta 3, Ayyakkannu Manivannan 4 and Prashant N. Kumta 1,2,3,* 1 Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
[email protected] (B.G.);
[email protected] (P.M.S.) 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
[email protected] 3 Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
[email protected] (P.H.J.);
[email protected] (R.K.);
[email protected] (M.K.D.) 4 US Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV 26507, USA;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] Academic Editor: Christian M. Julien Received: 20 March 2017; Accepted: 17 April 2017; Published: 20 April 2017 Abstract: Electrodeposition of amorphous silicon thin films on Cu substrate from organic ionic electrolyte using pulsed electrodeposition conditions has been studied. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows a drastic change in the morphology of these electrodeposited silicon thin films at different frequencies of 0, 500, 1000, and 5000 Hz studied due to the change in nucleation and the growth mechanisms. These electrodeposited films, when tested in a lithium ion battery configuration, showed improvement in stability and performance with an increase in pulse current frequency during deposition. XPS analysis showed variation in the content of Si and oxygen with the change in frequency of deposition and with the change in depth of these thin films.