Well-Dispersed ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticles onto Graphene as Superior Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

Yiseul Park,Misol Oh,Jae Kim

doi:10.3390/en12020304

Yiseul Park, Misol Oh + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en12020304

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Abstract

We prepared well-dispersed ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanoparticles on a graphene sheet by a facile one-step hydrothermal method using glucose as a novel linker agent and low-cost graphene flake. It was found that the glucose linkage on graphene not only prevented the aggregation of ZFO particles, but also induced the exfoliation of graphene flakes. The addition of glucose during the synthesis made surface linkages on the graphene surface, and it reacted with ZFO precursors, resulting in the well-dispersed ZFO nanoparticles/graphene composite. Furthermore, the size distribution of the resultant composite particles was also shifted to the smaller particle size compared to the composite prepared without glucose. The newly prepared ZFO/graphene composite provided a higher lithium storage capability and cycle performance compared to the ZFO/graphene sample which was prepared without glucose. The good dispersion of ZFO nanoparticles on graphene and the small particle size of the composite led to markedly improved electrochemical performance. Its reversible discharge capacity was 766 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1, and it also maintained as 469 mAh g−1 at 6 A g−1.

Highlights

Transition metal oxides are promising anode materials of lithium ion batteries due to their high reversible capacities [1,2]
Fe-based binary and ternary oxides have been explored as anode materials because of their feasibility to control energy density and working voltages by varying the transition metal content
The detailed characteristics are studied in this paper. and electrochemical properties of the prepared composites are systematically studied in this paper

Summary

Introduction

Transition metal oxides are promising anode materials of lithium ion batteries due to their high reversible capacities [1,2]. ZnFe2 O4 (ZFO) exhibits a lower working voltage to enhance the output voltage It generates a high capacity by the formation of Li–Zn alloy during discharge [3,4,5,6]. Graphene has been widely used to improve the electrochemical properties of electrodes, as it has excellent conductivity and structural flexibility. That being said, it is an expensive material, and its price tends to limit its use in industrial applications. Aggregated graphene flakes could be expanded and exfoliated by a urea-assisted sonication treatment [12,13] This method was applied in this study to obtain cheap graphene sheets. The detailed characteristics electrochemical properties of the prepared composites ion systematically batteries. The detailed characteristics are studied in this paper. and electrochemical properties of the prepared composites are systematically studied in this paper

Preparation of Electrodes

Characterization

Results and Discussion

Conclusions