Improving the electrochemical performances of organo-palladium (II) complex as promising anode material for Li-ion batteries: Effect of double emulsion preparation

Abstract

The influence of the particle morphology on electrochemical performance of organo-palladium (II) complex as anode material for Li-ion batteries is studied in this work. The double emulsion-evaporation technique was used to control the particle morphology of the [IPd(4-AcOC6H4)(PPh3)2] complex obtained after synthesis. SEM and TEM images of the particles obtained after double emulsion show spherical hollow and solid microparticles with a particle size lower than 15 μm, composed of an aggregation of nanoparticles with a particle size lower than 15 nm. The NMR analysis confirms that the molecular structure of the iodine complex is preserved after double emulsion. The effect of electrode slurry homogenization duration was explored and investigated. The comparison of the CV curves and the cycling performance demonstrates that the material prepared by double emulsion and with one week of slurry homogenization presents the best electrochemical performance. This shaped electrode exhibits the highest specific discharge capacity of 740 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 compared to 170 mAh g−1 for the complex initially synthesized. These results indicate that the particle morphology and duration of slurry homogenization have a great influence on the improvement of specific capacity, cyclability, and rate capability of [IPd(4-AcOC6H4)(PPh3)2] as anode material for Li-ion batteries.