The Production of Carbon Fibers from the Centrifugal Spinning of Aqueous Polymer Solutions for Use As Binder-Free Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

We present results of centrifugally spun carbon fibers (CFs) made from aqueous Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution. In the production of these fibers, the centrifugal spinning technique was used due to its high production rate of fibers. Subsequent heat treatment was conducted using a novel three step process that resulted in reduced residual stresses in the fibers after the centrifugal spinning process and subsequent thermal treatment. Moreover, this process increases the fibers’ resistance to degradation during carbonization at higher temperatures. Electrochemical performance tests were conducted on Li-ion half cells using the CFs as binder-free anodes. The carbon-fiber anode delivered a discharge capacity of Capacities of 618.7, 222.7 and 214.5 mAh g-1 at the 1st, 50th, and 100th cycles at a current density of 100 mAg-1. This work provides a novel and feasible pathway for designing and developing carbon fibers from water soluble polymer solution for use as anodes in high-performance lithium ion and sodium-ion batteries.