Abstract
Amorphous BCN ceramics were synthesized via a thermal conversion procedure of piperazine–borane and pyridine–borane. The synthesized BC2N and BC4N ceramics contained, in their final amorphous structure, 45 and 65 wt % of carbon, respectively. Elemental analysis revealed 45 and 65 wt % of carbon for BC2N and BC4N, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the amorphous nature of studied compounds. Lateral cluster size of carbon crystallites of 7.43 and 10.3 nm for BC2N and BC4N, respectively, was calculated from Raman spectroscopy data. This signified a higher order of the carbon phase present in BC4N. The electrochemical investigation of the low carbon BC2N composition as anodes for Li-ion batteries revealed initial capacities of 667 and 235 mAh·g−1 for lithium insertion/extraction, respectively. The material with higher carbon content, BC4N, disclosed better reversible lithium storage properties. Initial capacities of 1030 and 737 mAh·g−1 for lithium insertion and extraction were recovered for carbon-rich BC4N composition. Extended cycling with high currents up to 2 C/2 D revealed the cycling stability of BC4N electrodes. Cycling for more than 75 cycles at constant current rates showed a stable electrochemical behavior of BC4N anodes with capacities as high as 500 mAh·g−1.
Highlights
IntroductionRechargeable lithium ion batteries are currently dominating the field of portable electronics
Rechargeable lithium ion batteries are currently dominating the field of portable electronics.Considerable attention has been devoted to improving the performance of various insertion materials to meet the requirements of new technologies
Conventional anode materials for Li-ion batteries are based on graphite, which has a theoretical Li storage capacity of 372 mAhg1 with the formation of an intercalation compound LiC6
Summary
Rechargeable lithium ion batteries are currently dominating the field of portable electronics. Considerable attention has been devoted to improving the performance of various insertion materials to meet the requirements of new technologies. Conventional anode materials for Li-ion batteries are based on graphite, which has a theoretical Li storage capacity of 372 mAhg ́1 with the formation of an intercalation compound LiC6. Different forms of carbon-based materials with improved capacities and cycling performances have been widely investigated as an alternative to graphitic anodes [1,2,3,4,5]. Systems that react with lithium via conversion (e.g., Fe2 O3 and SnO2 ) or alloying The major drawback related to these materials is their poor cycling stability, which emerges from large volume expansion and contraction during Li-uptake and release
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