From minerals to the electrodes of lithium-ion battery: facile and precise determination of lithium by 7Li(p,α)4He nuclear reaction

The determination of lithium in spodumene, a mineral of lithium, and a number of materials used in lithium-ion battery by ⁷Li(p,α)⁴He nuclear reaction is described. The reaction is induced by 600 keV protons while the α-ejectiles are detected at 150° emission angle by a surface barrier detector. A mylar foil of ~ 10 micron thickness is used as a stopper foil to prevent the detection of backscattered protons and the α-ejectiles from X(p,α) reactions (X = B, N, O or F) occurring simultaneously with the ⁷Li(p,α)⁴He nuclear reaction. Specimen-silver powder mixtures serve as the targets. The comparator approach is used for quantitation. It employs a linear calibration plot constructed over 1–9.5 wt.% ⁷Li using lithium carbonate powder standards. The precision of the determinations is 1–3% while the combined uncertainty is < 8%. Homogeneity of targets and the choice of stopping cross sections of the materials are crucial for determinations with good analytical attributes. Non-destructive nature, rapidity, amenability to both bulk solid matrices and coatings and superior analytical merits make this method suitable for the routine determination of Li in materials.