Anode For Li-ion Batteries Research Articles

Electrochemical behavior of Ag nanoparticle-incorporated Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers as Li-ion battery anodes under visible light exposure

To gain insight into the light-induced plasmonic effect on metal nanoparticle-doped Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers (LTO NFs), we used Ag-LTO NFs as an anode material for solar Li-ion battery-based coin cells. The efficient incorporation of silver nanoparticles into LTO NFs improved electrochemical performance by shortening the electronic pathway and increasing conductivity in the presence of light. To better understand this process, in situ electrochemical studies were performed using a perforated coin cell with its anode subjected to light exposure. The studies revealed a synergistic effect of light and Ag-LTO NFs that led to both light-induced and electrochemical Li+ insertion, which in turn resulted in an enhanced Li-extraction and insertion speed. Overall, better reversibility and a 1.5-fold improvement in the conductivity of the Ag-LTO NFs under light irradiation were achieved. Our work opens an avenue for promising light-responsive plasmonic heterojunction materials toward a sustainable response to the increasing demand for high-power energy storage.

Computational verification of conductive Be2Zn monolayer as a superior anode for alkali and alkaline ion batteries

Availability of high-performance anode materials remains a great challenge for the clean energy storage systems. Here, we predict the planar hexacoordinate Be2Zn monolayer by first-principles calculations as a highly conductive metallic conductor with all-round structural stabilities. More impressively, the material delivers ultrahigh theoretical specific capacities of 1285, 1928, 1285, and 3856 mA h g−1 for Li, Na, K, and Ca atoms, respectively, with low migration barriers of 18, 7, 4, and 119 meV as well as with favorite average open-circuit voltages of 0.346, 0.366, 0.322, and 0.151 V. Its structural reversibility at the maximum loading concentrations is jointly confirmed by ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations at the upper temperature of 400 K for commercial battery operation under normal ambient environments and subsequent energy minimization calculations. Moreover, the monolayer can tolerate heavy tensile strain up to around 20% far surpassing the structural deformations at different charging stages, which convincingly guarantees its superlative cycle stability during the charging and discharging processes. Taken together, these appealing findings show that the metallic Be2Zn monolayer has great potential to be used as a universal Li, Na, K, and Ca ion battery anode.

Advancements in anode and cathode nanomaterials for high-performance Li-ion batteries

Commercially, lithium-ion batteries are the most popular batteries for electric devices, while energy density and stability have become more important for electric vehicles. Therefore, there is an increased interest in producing advanced lithium-ion batteries with a greater range of electric storage capability and improved electron transfer efficiency. Over the past few years, nanotechnology has been widely applied to enhance the physical properties of materials through the application of surface treatments or the modification of nanostructures. The significant development potential of nanotechnic applications for lithium-ion batteries is the reason for this discussion. There have been several advancements in graphene, carbon nanotubes, silicon-based and other metal-based anodes, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, and nickel-based cathodes, their fabrication processes and understanding of mechanisms, as well as trends for further improvement of those previously discovered. These advancements have led to the development of batteries with greater capacity and greater performance, better stability, quicker charging times, and a longer cycle life.

Fe-N-C decorated fibrous network-wrapped biomass SiOx/C with gradient conductive structure for high performance Li-ion battery anodes

Fabrication of high performance silicon-based materials derived from natural biowastes plays a significant role in the green recycling of biomass resources. However, low utilization of organic component and poor lifespan hinders the its large scale applications. Herein, biomass derived SiOx/C-3 composite was encapsulated into Fe-N-C decorated carbon nanofibers network (Fe-N-C/SiOx/C-3) by a facile magnesiothermic reduction combined with electrostatic spinning strategy. The ingenious designed indirect contact biomass carbon/SiO2 interface effectively utilizes the organic components of rice husk and prevents the formation of SiC during reduction process. HAADF-STEM and XPS characterization confirmed the presence of Fe single atoms and the formation of Fe-N coordination bonds. Benefiting from the unique carbonaceous network and catalytic effect of Fe-N-C, the Fe-N-C/SiOx/C-3 exhibit excellent lithium storage properties (832.6 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles at 0.1 A g−1). Even at high current density (1 A g−1), the electrode can still remain a capacity of 602 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles with capacity retention of 79.4%. The ex-situ SEM and XPS characterizations demonstrated that the gradient structure consisting of inner biomass-derived carbon and flexible carbonaceous networks enhanced the overall conductivity and structural integrity of the composite. Furthermore, the catalytic effect of Fe-N-C facilitates the rapidly formation of stable LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films during charge/discharge process. The assembled LiFePO4‖Fe-N-C/SiOx/C-3 full cell shows excellent electrochemical performance (106.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1A g−1), which provides insights into the fabrication of high performance biomass derived silicon based anodes.

Application of carbon and silicon nanomaterials in lithium ion battery anode

The world is in an era of increasing energy demand to meet the development needs of modern society. Both nanotechnology and lithium-ion battery technology play an important role in helping the world meet the growing challenges of energy and environmental problems. In this paper, through consulting relevant materials and referring to relevant papers, the influence and progress of nanostructured electrode materials on the design, synthesis and electrochemical performance of Li-ion battery anode materials are comprehensively introduced. Nanomaterials exhibit unique properties that present intriguing prospects for their use in various sectors. Traditional anodes in LIBs suffer from limited charge capacity, poor cycle life. By reducing the size to nanoscale, these structures can better accommodate the volume changes, hence improving durability and charge capacity. Despite current challenges in terms of cost and scalability, the progress in this field suggests the potential for future advancements in high-performance LIBs with the integration of nanostructured anodes.

Layered GeSe/thermally-reduced graphene oxide composites as efficient anodes for high-performance Li-ion batteries

Due to their layered structure and greater electrical conductivity compared to traditional metal oxides, layered metal selenides have been extensively explored as promising electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. The greatest obstacles to their continued growth, however, are the substantial volume change and particle agglomeration during cycling. In this work, layered GeSe/ thermally-reduced graphene oxide (TRG) composites were successfully synthesized by using a facile shear-force exfoliation approach. When a highly conductive TRG matrix was incorporated with GeSe particles, the resultant GeSe/TRG composite electrode achieved an impressive reversible capacity (>840.1 mAh g−1 at 0.1C), improved rate capability as well as excellent cycling stability. The remarkable improvement in electrochemical performance of the GeSe/TRG composite electrode corresponds to the TRG matrix, which potentially constructs an efficient conductive channel and serves as a flexible mechanical buffer for the restriction of volume expansion and particle aggregation.

Ultra-Efficient Synthesis of Nb4 C3 Tx MXene via H2 O-Assisted Supercritical Etching for Li-Ion Battery.

Nb4 C3 Tx MXene has shown extraordinary promise for various applications owing to its unique physicochemical properties. However, it can only be synthesized by the traditional HF-based etching method, which uses large amounts of hazardous HF and requires a long etching time (> 96h), thus limiting its practical application. Here, an ultra-efficient and environmental-friendly H2 O-assisted supercritical etching method is proposed for the preparation of Nb4 C3 Tx MXene. Benefiting from the synergetic effect between supercritical CO2 (SPC-CO2 ) and subcritical H2 O （SBC-H2 O）, the etching time for Nb4 C3 Tx MXene can be dramatically shortened to 1h. The as-synthesized Nb4 C3 Tx MXene possesses uniform accordion-like morphology and large interlayer spacing. When used as anode for Li-ion battery, the Nb4 C3 Tx MXene delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 430mAhg-1 at 0.1Ag-1 , which is among the highest values achieved in pure-MXene-based anodes. The superior lithium storage performance of the Nb4 C3 Tx MXene can be ascribed to its high conductivity, fast Li+ diffusion kinetics and good structural stability.

Tailored synthesis of NdMnxFe1-xO3 perovskite nanoparticles with oxygen-vacancy defects for lithium-ion battery anodes

In this study, we synthesize nanostructured NdMnxFe1-xO3 perovskites using a facile method to produce materials for the high-working-efficiency anodes of Li-ion batteries. A series of characterization assessments (e.g., X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron microscopy) were conducted, and the results confirmed the efficacious partial replacement of Fe ions with Mn ions in the NdFeO3 perovskite structure, occurrence of both amorphous and crystalline structures, presence of oxygen vacancies (VO), and interconnection between nanoparticles. The possibility of Mn ion replacement significantly affects the size, amount of VO, and ratio of amorphous phase in NdMnxFe1-xO3 perovskites. The NdMnxFe1-xO3 perovskite with x = 0.3 presents a notable electrochemical performance, including low charge transfer resistance, durable Coulombic efficiency, first-rate capacity reservation, high pseudo-behavior, and elongated 150-cycle service life, whereas no discernible capacity deterioration is observed. The reversible capacity of the anode after the 150th-cylcle was 713 mAh g−1, which represents a high-capacity value. The outstanding electrochemical efficiency resulted from the optimum presence of VO, interconnection between the nanoparticles, and distinctive properties of the NdFeO3 perovskite. The interconnection between nanoparticles was advantageous for forming a large electrolyte-electrode contact area, improving Li-ion diffusion rates, and enhancing pseudocapacitive effect. The attributes of perovskite crystals, coexistence of Mn and Fe throughout the charge/discharge process, and optimum VO precluded the electrode devastation that caused the Li2O-phase decomposition catalysis, enabling favorable reversible Li storage.

Effect of concentration-driven magnetic phase changes on adsorption and diffusion in VSe2 monolayers: Implications for lithium-ion batteries

A vanadium diselenide (VSe2) monolayer is a two-dimensional (2D) magnetic material that exhibits ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature and exceptional metal-ion storage capacity, making it useful in spintronics and energy storage applications. However, a robust correlation between the magnetic and electrochemical properties of VSe2 remains to be established. In this study, first-principles density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the effect of increasing Li-ion concentrations on the magnetic properties, particularly the magnetic ground state of the VSe2 monolayer. The results indicate that, as the concentration of Li ions on the surface of VSe2 monolayer increases, magnetic phase transitions occur, leading to a shift from the intrinsic ferromagnetic (FM) state to antiferromagnetic (AFM) and non-magnetic ground states. Analyses of the diffusion properties of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic VSe2 monolayers revealed a considerable (∼71%) increase in the Li-ion diffusion energy barrier for the AFM state compared to the FM state. This implies that FM-VSe2 facilitates relatively faster diffusion of Li ions than AFM-VSe2. Therefore, the Li-ion concentration-induced phase change in the VSe2 monolayer leads to variable adsorption and diffusion characteristics, which will have significant implications for its use in Li-ion battery anodes.

Unlocking the potential of silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries: A claw-inspired binder with synergistic interface bonding

Binders play a crucial role in enhancing the cycling stability of silicon anodes in next-generation Li-ion batteries. However, traditional linear polymer binders have difficulty withstanding the volume expansion of silicon during cycling. Herein, inspired by the fact that animals’ claws can grasp objects firmly, a claw-like taurine-grafted-poly (acrylic acid) binder (Tau-g-PAA) is designed to improve the electrochemical performance of silicon anodes. The synergistic effects of different polar groups (sulfo and carboxyl) in Tau-g-PAA facilitate the formation of multidimensional interactions with silicon nanoparticles and the diffusion of Li ions, thereby greatly improving the stability and rate performance of silicon anodes, which aligns with results from density functional theory (DFT) simulations. As expected, a Tau-g-PAA/Si electrode exhibits excellent cycling performance with a high specific capacity of 1003 ​mA ​h ​g−1 ​at 1 ​C (1 ​C ​= ​4200 ​mA ​h ​g−1) after 300 cycles, and a high rate performance. The design strategy of using polar small molecule-grafted polymers to create claw-like structures could inspire the development of better binders for silicon-based anodes.

High-performance silicon/graphite anode prepared by CVD using SiCl4 as precursor for Li-ion batteries

Graphite/silicon composite anode shows increased capacity but suffering from the volume expansion of Si during cycling. Herein, we reported a facile chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) as precursor to deposit silicon into graphite to prepare composite as anode for Li-ion batteries. Si can be deposit as the nano-sized particles in the open spaces of graphite, and closely attached on the graphite flakes. Such architecture effectively increased the contact between Si and graphite, and provided semi-enveloping confinement for Si volume change. Typically, the composite anode with 10% Si could maintain above 600 mAh/g for 100 cycles.

Rapid ultrasound driven self-assembled nanoarchitectonics iron oxide-reduced graphene oxide as an anode for Li-ion battery and its electrochemical performance studies

With the scope of identifying an effective nanomaterial as an anode for Li-ion battery under economic synthesis factors, here, high crystalline mesoporous magnetite nanoparticles (m-Fe3O4 NPs) with an average diameter of 45 ± 10 nm were successfully synthesized through facile, one-pot sonoelectrochemical method in 15 min, and it was structurally anchored into sonochemically exfoliated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (m-Fe3O4@rGO). The morphological studies through FESEM and HRTEM analysis confirm that the m-Fe3O4 were well anchored into rGO nanosheets, and it has maximum magnetic saturation value of 39 emu g−1 and high surface area of 254 m2 g−1. The performance analysis results of m-Fe3O4@rGO nanocomposite as an anode material in half-cell configuration with Li-metal had demonstrated that around 11 % enhancement in first discharge capacity (1440.79 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 current density), ~50 % increased rate capability (356 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1 current density) than bare m-Fe3O4 electrode and had maintained nearly 441 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 2.0 A g−1 current density. These results suggest that the sonochemical method could be a better alternate method when compared to other time-consuming processes like solvothermal method where high temperature is required to fabricate effective nanocomposite for high-rate performance in real time applications of Li-ion battery.

Optimization of Pore Characteristics of Graphite-Based Anode for Li-Ion Batteries by Control of the Particle Size Distribution

We investigate the reassembly techniques for utilizing fine graphite particles, smaller than 5 µm, as high-efficiency, high-rate anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Fine graphite particles of two sizes (0.4–1.2 µm and 5 µm) are utilized, and the mixing ratio of the two particles is varied to control the porosity of the assembled graphite. The packing characteristics of the assembled graphite change based on the mixing ratio of the two types of fine graphite particles, forming assembled graphite with varying porosities. The open porosity of the manufactured assembled graphite samples ranges from 0.94% to 3.55%, while the closed porosity ranges from 21.41% to 26.51%. All the assembled graphite shows improved electrochemical characteristics properties compared with anodes composed solely of fine graphite particles without granulation. The sample assembled by mixing 1.2 µm and 5 µm graphite at a 60:40 ratio exhibits the lowest total porosity (27.45%). Moreover, it exhibits a 92.3% initial Coulombic efficiency (a 4.7% improvement over fine graphite particles) and a capacity of 163.4 mAh/g at a 5C-rate (a 1.9-fold improvement over fine graphite particles).

Metal oxide- and metal-loaded mesoporous carbon for practical high-performance Li-ion battery anodes

The rapidly expanding Li-ion battery market needs new materials that can satisfy the increasing energy storage demand. Metal oxides and some metals such as tin are viable alternatives to graphite as Li-ion battery anodes, but their low conductivity and large volume change during cycling impose severe challenges that need to be overcome. Confinement of metal oxide and metal nanomaterials within mesoporous carbon (MC) is an effective strategy in this regard, but complex synthesis and nanoparticle aggregation have hindered its application. Herein, we report a facile, scalable and generalized methodology for the room-temperature synthesis of metal oxide and metal nanoparticles within a MC host. The approach has been successfully applied to achieve uniform distribution and prevent aggregation of a large variety of metal oxide and metal nanomaterials in MC support. These nanocomposites were screened as Li-ion battery anodes, and the optimal candidates were shown to be superior to previously reported systems. Our synthesis method was scaled up using commercial MC. The nanocomposites were validated in a high-loading electrode (4 mg/cm2) with a practical voltage range (< 2 V vs. Li+/Li), showing impressive initial Coulombic efficiency (> 100%), and excellent stability (∼ 500 mAh/g after 250 cycles at 0.2 A/g), which was 1.5–2x better than commercial graphite at the same testing conditions. The facile nature, universality and versatility of our approach make it possible to load various metal oxide and metal nanomaterials within different types of MC. These nanocomposites would be of significant interest to different fields, such as energy storage and conversion, sensing, and catalysis.

Graphene nanonetwork embedded with polyaniline nanoparticles as anode of Li-ion battery

A simple and solvent-free approach is proposed to prepare graphene nanonetwork-polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposite with enhanced electrical conductivity and Li-ion storage performance. To this end, acidic graphene oxide (AGO) and PANI are ball-milled followed by low-temperature chemical expansion leading to the formation of chemically expanded graphene (CEG) in the form of mesoporous nanonetworks with the lattice layer spacing of 0.362 nm embedded with PANI nanoparticles. CEG-PANI nanocomposite outperforms CEG, exhibiting a specific reversible capacity of 664 mAh·g−1 at 200 mA·g−1 after 150 cycles, and the discharge capacity of 253 mAh·g−1 after 350 cycles at 2000 mA·g−1. The enhanced electrochemical performance of CEG-PANI can be attributed to its large specific surface area, mesoporous structure and conductive homogeneous graphene nanonetwork doped with of N heteroatoms embedded with polyaniline, providing sufficient active sites for facile Li-ion storage. Nanostructured CEG-PANI is a promising candidate for anode of Li-ion batteries.

Prospective utilization of boron nitride and beryllium oxide nanotubes for Na, Li, and K-ion batteries: a DFT-based analysis.

In the present work, we investigated the adsorption mechanism of natural sodium (Na), potassium (K), and lithium (Li) atoms and their respective ion on two nanostructures: boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and beryllium-oxide nanotubes (BeONTs). The main goal of this research is to calculate the gain voltage for Na, K, and Li ionic batteries. Density function theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the adsorption energy between Na + is higher than that of the other cations, and this is particularly clear in the BeONT. Furthermore, gain voltage calculations showed that BNNTs generate a higher potential than BeONTs, with the most significant difference observed in BNNT/Na + . This research provides theoretical insights into the potential uses of these nanostructures as anodes in Na, K, and Li-ion batteries. Density function theory used to compute the ground state properties for BeONT and BNNT with and without selected atoms and their ions (Li, K, and Na). B3LYP used for exchange correlation between electrons and ions, and 6-31G* basis set used for all atoms and ions. Gauss Sum 2.2 software used for estimate the density of state (DOS) for all structure under investigation.

Cationic surfactant assisted electrostatic self-assembly of nitrogen-rich carbon enwrapped silicon anode: Unlocking high lithium storage performance

Nitrogen-rich carbon (N-rich-C) coating is attractive to enhance capacity, reduce resistance, and alleviate volume expansion of silicon anode in Li-ion batteries. However, the non-uniform coating of N-rich-C on silicon might restrict its optimum performance. In this study, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) is employed as a cationic surfactant to tailor the surface potential of bare ball-milled Si particles, enabling the electrostatic self-assembly between Si particles and graphitic carbon nitride as the N-rich-C precursor. Continuous N-rich-C enwrapped ball-milled silicon (Si@N-rich-C) has been obtained after pyrolysis with a high N to C ratio of 0.65 and abundant pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N, facilitating fast kinetic transport and accommodating more Li+ ion storage. Combined with the high capacity of Si, Li-ion cell with Si@N-rich-C electrode exhibits a high capacity of 1732 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles of charge-discharge at 400 mA g−1. At high-rate testing, Si@N-rich-C also maintains a high capacity of 1673 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1. This study provides an effective approach for synthesizing high-capacity silicon anode for Li-ion batteries.

SnO2 nanotubes with N-doped carbon coating for advanced Li-ion battery anodes

SnO2 nanotubes with N-doped carbon coating for advanced Li-ion battery anodes

Superb Li-Ion Storage of Sn-Based Anode Assisted by Conductive Hybrid Buffering Matrix.

Although Sn has been intensively studied as one of the most promising anode materials to replace commercialized graphite, its cycling and rate performances are still unsatisfactory owing to the insufficient control of its large volume change during cycling and poor electrochemical kinetics. Herein, we propose a Sn-TiO2-C ternary composite as a promising anode material to overcome these limitations. The hybrid TiO2-C matrix synthesized via two-step high-energy ball milling effectively regulated the irreversible lithiation/delithiation of the active Sn electrode and facilitated Li-ion diffusion. At the appropriate C concentration, Sn-TiO2-C exhibited significantly enhanced cycling performance and rate capability compared with its counterparts (Sn-TiO2 and Sn-C). Sn-TiO2-C delivers good reversible specific capacities (669 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1 and 651 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 500 mA g-1) and rate performance (446 mAh g-1 at 3000 mA g-1). The superiority of Sn-TiO2-C over Sn-TiO2 and Sn-C was corroborated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which revealed faster Li-ion diffusion kinetics in the presence of the hybrid TiO2-C matrix than in the presence of TiO2 or C alone. Therefore, Sn-TiO2-C is a potential anode for next-generation Li-ion batteries.

Sustainable Li-ion anode material from Fe-catalyzed graphitization of paper waste

A novel method for the conversion of paper towel waste to biographite anode material is developed and optimized for use in Li-ion batteries. The surge in demand for Li-ion battery anode materials coupled with the unsustainable and inefficient methods of producing battery-grade graphite necessitate alternative carbon feedstocks and graphitization technologies. Paper waste (PW) is identified as a suitable carbon feedstock for iron-catalyzed graphitization due to its sustainability, low cost, low ash content, and ample supply for the intended end use. A Box Behnken experimental design for statistical optimization is pursued for untreated and pre‑carbonized PW with factors of temperature (1100–1300 °C), hold time (1–5 h), and iron catalyst loading (0.5–1.5× fixed carbon content) with biographite crystal size as the primary response variable. Temperature and iron catalyst loading are found to be significant factors, whereas hold time is found to be insignificant. Reversible capacities of the biographite anodes are found to be 340–355 mAh g−1 with 99 % capacity retention over 100 cycles, indicating good electrochemical performance relative to commercial graphite anodes. The initial Coulombic efficiency of untreated and pre‑carbonized biographites, however, are 77 % and 75 %, respectively, suggesting parasitic reactions including electrolyte decomposition.