Electrospun Carbon-Based Nanocomposites as Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Electrospinning is a simple and widely used technique to prepare various 1D materials ensuring cost-effectiveness and industry feasibility. This technique is extensively used to prepare carbon nanofibers (CNF) and their composites with transition metal oxides, sulfides, etc., with controlled morphology and compositions. These 1D nanostructures with high aspect ratios give variety in size distribution, compositions and pysicochemical properties with large surface area. This technique allows fabrication of free-standing mats via proper post-spinning thermal treatments. The large surface area and porosity make electrospun fibers suitable for energy storage application. Electrospun fibers have attracted much attention toward energy storage applications like lithium ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, redox flow batteries, metal air batteries, etc., due to their enhanced surface to volume ratio for better electrode-electrolyte interface and tuneable electrochemical properties. This chapter covers the role of nanocomposite of electrospun carbon fiber as anodes for lithium ion batteries and their charge storage mechanism. All the parameters of electrospinning, thermal treatments and electrochemical performance of CNFs-based materials are explained.