Electron energy loss spectroscopy analysis of lithium deintercalated Li5/3−xTi7/3CrO7 Original Research Article

Electron energy loss spectroscopy has been used to investigate the average oxidation state of Cr in both electrochemically and chemically delithiathed Li5/3−xTi7/3CrO7. The O K edge, Ti L2,3 and Cr L2,3 edge were monitored. Upon removal of Li ions, the oxygen K edge shows a continuous change while the Cr L edges remain almost unchanged. The Cr 2p multiplet was compared with reference samples (Cr2O3, CrO2 and K2Cr2O7) in order to assess on the sensitivity of the Cr L-edge to the oxidation state of chromium ion. The similarity between the Cr L spectra of Cr2O3 and CrO2 makes the valence analysis difficult in Li5/3−xTi7/3CrO7 but the presence of CrVI is excluded in oxidized samples. However, evolution of the low energy loss spectra observed in the 10–15 eV region confirms the modification of the electronic structure and partial oxidation of CrIII to CrIV.