Study of the phases in a copper cathode during an electrodeposition process for obtaining Cu–Li alloys

The evolution of Cu–18at%Li crystals, Cu2O, Li2CO3, and CuO phases, which nucleate and grow during the electrodeposition process in a copper cathode, was examined. The electrodeposition process was mainly responsible for promoting the formation of copper oxides and lithium-carbonates in the cathode. The evolution of both the quantity of Cu–Li crystals formed at the surface of the cathode and the total lithium concentration of the sample as a function of the electrodeposition time was studied.