Comparison of Nanoscale Focused Ion Beam and Electrochemical Lithiation in -Sn Microspheres.

The development of Li focused ion beams (Li-FIB) enables controlled Li ion insertion into materials with nanoscale resolution. We take the first step toward establishing the relevance of the Li-FIB for studies of ion dynamics in electrochemically active materials by comparing FIB lithiation with conventional electrochemical lithiation of isolated -Sn microspheres. Samples are characterized by cross-sectioning with Ga FIB and imaging via electron microscopy.