Abstract
ZnO nanorods (NRs) decorated with Ni nanoparticles were synthesized using a template-free electrochemical deposition in an ultra-dilute aqueous electrolyte and a subsequent galvanic reaction. The electrochemical properties of the ZnO NRs as an anode material for rechargeable Li-ion batteries were evaluated for different binder morphologies (film and close-packed spherical particles) of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Results showed that the close-packed spherical PVDF simultaneously improved electrochemical capacity and cyclability because the free-volume between the spherical PVDF helped to accommodate the volume change in the anode caused by the Li ions discharge and charge processes. Furthermore, the Ni nanoparticles decorated on the surface of ZnO NRs enhanced the electrical conductivity of the ZnO NR anode, which enabled faster electronic and ionic transport at the interface between the electrolyte and the electrode, resulting in improved electrochemical capacity. The free-volume formed by the close-packed spherical PVDF, and the decoration of metal nanoparticles are expected to provide insight on the simultaneous improvement of electrochemical capacity and cyclability in other metal oxide anode nanostructures.
Highlights
Rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used for energy storage in portable devices such as cellular phones, cameras, and lap-top computers (Tarascon and Armand, 2001; Li et al, 2009; Scrosati and Garche, 2010)
The spherical nanoparticles of PVDF (sPVDF)-infiltrated ZnO NRs decorated with Ni nanoparticles and the as-prepared ZnO NRs exhibited an Rct value (22 and 33 Ω) at the 10th charge cycle, which was much smaller than that those (105 and 100 Ω) of the sPVDFinfiltrated ZnO NRs, and the ZnO NRs embedded in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film
With the increase of the charge cycles, the Rct values of the sPVDF-infiltrated ZnO NRs and the ZnO NRs embedded in PVDF film increased to 178 and 205 Ω in the 30th cycle, reaching 221 and 234 Ω in the 50th cycle, respectively
Summary
Rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used for energy storage in portable devices such as cellular phones, cameras, and lap-top computers (Tarascon and Armand, 2001; Li et al, 2009; Scrosati and Garche, 2010). The Ni nanoparticles decorated on the surface of ZnO NRs enhanced the electrical conductivity of the ZnO NR anode, which enabled faster electronic and ionic transport at the interface between the electrolyte and the electrode, resulting in improved electrochemical capacity.
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