Carbon-coated ZnO Nanocomposite Microspheres as Anode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries

The carbon-coated ZnO nanospheres materials have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method.The effect of carbon content on the microstructure,morphology and electrochemical performance of the materials was investigated by XRD,Raman spectroscopy,transmission electron microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques.Research results show that the spherical ZnO/C material with a carbon cladding content of 10%is very homogeneous and approximately 200 nm in size.The electrochemical performances of the ZnO/C nanospheres as an anode materials are examines.The ZnO/C exhibits better stability than pure ZnO,excellent lithium storage properties as well as improved circulation performance.The Coulomb efficiency of the ZnO/C with 10%carbon coated content reaches 98%.The improvement of electrochemical performance can be attributed to the carbon layer on the ZnO surface.The large volume change of ZnO during the charge-discharge process can be effectively relieved.

Emerging two-dimensional Mo-based materials for rechargeable metal-ion batteries:Advances and perspectives

With the rapid development of rechargeable metal-ion batteries(MIBs)with safety,stability and high energy density,significant efforts have been devoted to exploring high-performance electrode materials.In recent years,two-dimensional(2D)molybdenum-based(Mo-based)materials have drawn considerable attention due to their exceptional characteristics,including low cost,unique crystal structure,high theoretical capacity and controllable chemical compositions.However,like other transition metal compounds,Mo-based materials are facing thorny challenges to overcome,such as slow electron/ion transfer kinetics and substantial volume changes during the charge and discharge processes.In this review,we summarize the recent progress in developing emerging 2D Mo-based electrode materials for MIBs,encompassing oxides,sulfides,selenides,carbides.After introducing the crystal structure and common synthesis methods,this review sheds light on the charge storage mechanism of several 2D Mo-based materials by various advanced characterization techniques.The latest achievements in utilizing 2D Mo-based materials as electrode materials for various MIBs(including lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)and zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs))are discussed in detail.Afterwards,the modulation strategies for enhancing the electrochemical performance of 2D Mo-based materials are highlighted,focusing on heteroatom doping,vacancies creation,composite coupling engineering and nanostructure design.Finally,we present the existing challenges and future research directions for 2D Mo-based materials to realize high-performance energy storage systems.

Preparation of layered Li(Ni_(1/3)Co_(1/3)Mn_(1/3))O_2 as positive material for lithium-ion secondary battery

The uniform layered Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 cathode material for lithium-ion secondary batteries were synthesized by using(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)(OH)2 synthesized by a liquid phase co-precipitated method as precursors and with NiSO4,CoSO4,MnSO4 and NH3·H2O as raw materials. The influence of the preparation conditions such as precursors preparation,calcinations temperature and calcinations time on the structural and electrochemical properties of the Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 were systematicelly studied. The result of XRD shows the I003/I104 value of the Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 powder synthesized at 950 ℃ for 10 h is 1.26,which illustrates the well-ordered layer-structure. The average particle size of uniform Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 powder is about 400 nm in diameter as observed by scanning electron microscopy. The first discharge capacity of Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 electrode is 174.6 mA·h/g at 16 mA/g between 2.8 V and 4.5 V versus Li at room temperature,and the capacity retention is 95.2% of the initial discharge capacity after 50 cycles at 32 mA/g.

Enhanced Electrochemical Performances of Ni Doped Cr_(8)O_(21)Cathode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries

Cathode materials,nickel doped Cr_(8)O_(21),were synthesized by a solid-state method.The effects of Ni doping on the electrochemical performances of Cr_(8)O_(21) were investigated.The experimental results show that the discharge capacities of the samples depend on the nickel contents,which increases firstly and then decreases with increasing Ni contents.Optimized Ni_(0.5)Cr_(7.5)O_(21)delivers a first capacity up to 392.6 m Ah·g^(-1)at 0.1C.In addition,Ni doped sample also demonstrates enhanced cycling stability and rate capability compared with that of the bare Cr_(8)O_(21).At 1 C,an initial discharge capacity of 348.7 m Ah·g^(-1)was achieved for Ni_(0.5)Cr_(7.5)O_(21),much higher than 271.4 m Ah·g^(-1)of the un-doped sample,with an increase of more than 28%.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results confirm that Ni doping reduces the growth of interface resistance and charge transfer resistance,which is conducive to the electrochemical kinetic behaviors during charge-discharge.

Hydrothermal synthesis of spindle-like Li_2FeSiO_4-C composite as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

In this paper,we report on the preparation of Li2FeSiO4,sintered Li2FeSiO4,and Li2FeSiO4-C composite with spindle-like morphologies and their application as cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries.Spindle-like Li2FeSi04 was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with（NH4）2Fe（SO4）2 as the iron source.The spindle-like Li2FeSiO4 was sintered at 600 ℃ for 6 h in Ar atmosphere.Li2FeSiO4-C composite was obtained by the hydrothermal treatment of spindle-like Li2FeSiO4 in glucose solution at 190 ℃ for 3 h.Electrochemical measurements show that after carbon coating,the electrode performances such as discharge capacity and high-rate capability are greatly enhanced.In particular.Li2FeSiO4-C with carbon content of 7.21 wt%delivers the discharge capacities of 160.9 mAh·g-1 at room temperature and 213 mAh·g-1 at45℃（0.1 C）,revealing the potential application in lithium-ion batteries.

Interconnected sandwich structure carbon/Si-SiO_2/carbon nanospheres composite as high performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries

In the present work,an interconnected sandwich carbon/Si-SiO2/carbon nanospheres composite was prepared by template method and carbon thermal vapor deposition（TVD）.The carbon conductive layer can not only efficiently improve the electronic conductivity of Si-based anode,but also play a key role in alleviating the negative effect from huge volume expansion over discharge/charge of Si-based anode.The resulting material delivered a reversible capacity of 1094 mAh/g,and exhibited excellent cycling stability.It kept a reversible capacity of 1050 mAh/g over 200 cycles with a capacity retention of 96%.

Tin oxide-graphite composite for lithium storage material in lithium-ion batteries

A SnO-graphite composite material, which can deliver high capacities and good cycling stability compared with unsupported SnO, was described. This material prepared via chemical co-precipitation reaction in the presence of graphite consists of high dispersion of SnO with a size of about several hundred nanometers in the graphite. The phase structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology and the element distribution were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy spectrum. The results show that the SnO-graphite composites produced by slowly hydrolysis have higher rechargeable capacities than pure graphite and better cycling performance than SnO.

Paraffin/SiC as a Novel Composite Phase-Change Material for a Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Management System

A lithium-ion battery thermal management system has always been a hot spot in the battery industry. In this study, a novel high-thermal-conductivity composite phase-change material(CPCM) made by paraffin wax and silicon was adopted to facilitate heat transfer. Moreover, high resistance or even insulation of CPCM is capable of preventing short circuits between the cells. The heat transfer mechanism of CPCMs was determined under a scanning electron microscope. A thermogravimetric analyzer was employed to determine the thermal stability. A diff erential scanning calorimeter was used to explore the thermophysical properties of the composite samples. By comparing the results of the experiment, it was reported that under the silicon carbide content of 5%, the parameters were better than others. The phase-change enthalpy of CPCM was 199.4 J/g, the leakage rate of liquid was 4.6%, and the melting point was 53.6℃. To verify the practicality of CPCM, a three-dimensional layered battery pack model was built in the COMSOL Multiphysics software. By simulating the thermal runaway inside the battery packs of various materials, it was reported that the addition of CPCM significantly narrowed the temperature range of the battery pack from 300–370 to 303–304 K. Therefore, CPCM can eff ectively increase the rate of heat transfer to prevent the chain of thermal runaway reactions. It also enables the battery pack to run at a stable temperature.

Electrochemical Performance of SnO_2/ Graphite Nanocomposites as Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

SnO2/ graphite nanocomposites with different SnO2 contents were successfully prepared by a co-precipitation method.The nanocomposites, used as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries( LIBs),were characterized by X-ray diffraction( XRD),thermogravimetric analysis( TGA), and transmission electron microscopy( TEM). The SnO2 particles had the average size of about 15 nm and their distribution on graphite matrix much depended on the contents of SnO2 in the nanocomposites. The galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles were used to investigate the effects of SnO2 contents on the electrochemical performance of these composites. The results show that the initial specific capacities increase with the SnO2 contents. However,the cyclic stabilities are determined by the distribution of SnO2 particles in composites. For55% by weight SnO2/ graphite composites, the initial specific capacity is 740 m Ah g- 1and 70% of the initial specific capacity( 518 m Ah·g- 1) can still be retained after 50 charge-discharge cycles.

Fabrication of Silicon/Carbon Composite Material with Silicon Waste and Carbon Nanofiber Applied in Lithium-Ion Battery

Silicon (Si) is regarded as a promising material for lithium-ion battery anode because of high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, Si faces particle pulverization and rapid capacity fading due to serious volume change during the lithiation and the delithiation process. In this work, a silicon/carbon composite constituted to Si powder and carbon nanofiber (CNF) is produced to solve the above issues as a new design structure of anode material. The Si powder was recycled from the silicon slicing waste in photovoltaic industry and the CNF was from dry rice straws. By mixing the purified Si powder with CNF, the composite was synthesized by the freeze-drying method and calcination. In the cyclic test, Si adding with 1 wt% CNF showed 3091 mAh/g capacity in the first cycle and 1079 mAh/g capacity after 100 cycles at the current density of 0.5 A/g, which were both better than pristine Si. SEM images also show the composite structure can eliminate cracks on the surface of the electrode during cycling. CNF attaching on Si particles can increase specific surface area, so binder can easily combine the active materials and the conductive materials together. This strategy enhances the structure stability and prevents the electrode from delamination.

Solid-state mechanochemistry advancing two dimensional materials for lithium-ion storage applications:A mini review

The vigorous development of two-dimensional(2D)materials brings about numerous opportunities for lithiumion batteries(LIBs)due to their unique 2D layered structure,large specific surface area,outstanding mechanical and flexibility properties,etc.Modern technologies for production of 2D materials include but are not limited to mechanochemical(solid-state/liquid-phase)exfoliation,the solvothermal method and chemical vapor deposition.In this review,strategies leading to the production of 2D materials via solid-state mechanochemistry featuring traditional high energy ball-milling and Sichuan University patented pan-milling are highlighted.The mechanism involving exfoliation,edge selective carbon radical generation of the 2D materials is delineated and this is followed by detailed discussion on representative mechanochemical techniques for tailored and improved lithium-ion storage performance.In the light of the advantages of the solid-state mechanochemical method,there is great promise for the commercialization of 2D materials for the next-generation high performance LIBs.

Empowering the Future: Exploring the Construction and Characteristics of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium element has attracted remarkable attraction for energy storage devices, over the past 30 years. Lithium is a light element and exhibits the low atomic number 3, just after hydrogen and helium in the periodic table. The lithium atom has a strong tendency to release one electron and constitute a positive charge, as Li . Initially, lithium metal was employed as a negative electrode, which released electrons. However, it was observed that its structure changed after the repetition of charge-discharge cycles. To remedy this, the cathode mainly consisted of layer metal oxide and olive, e.g., cobalt oxide, LiFePO4, etc., along with some contents of lithium, while the anode was assembled by graphite and silicon, etc. Moreover, the electrolyte was prepared using the lithium salt in a suitable solvent to attain a greater concentration of lithium ions. Owing to the lithium ions’ role, the battery’s name was mentioned as a lithium-ion battery. Herein, the presented work describes the working and operational mechanism of the lithium-ion battery. Further, the lithium-ion batteries’ general view and future prospects have also been elaborated.

Computational design of promising 2D electrode materials for Li-ion and Li–S battery applications

Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)and lithium-sulfur(Li–S)batteries are two types of energy storage systems with significance in both scientific research and commercialization.Nevertheless,the rational design of electrode materials for overcoming the bottlenecks of LIBs and Li–S batteries(such as low diffusion rates in LIBs and low sulfur utilization in Li–S batteries)remain the greatest challenge,while two-dimensional(2D)electrodes materials provide a solution because of their unique structural and electrochemical properties.In this article,from the perspective of ab-initio simulations,we review the design of 2D electrode materials for LIBs and Li–S batteries.We first propose the theoretical design principles for 2D electrodes,including stability,electronic properties,capacity,and ion diffusion descriptors.Next,classified examples of promising 2D electrodes designed by theoretical simulations are given,covering graphene,phosphorene,MXene,transition metal sulfides,and so on.Finally,common challenges and a future perspective are provided.This review paves the way for rational design of 2D electrode materials for LIBs and Li–S battery applications and may provide a guide for future experiments.

Overlooked impact of precursor mixing:Implications in the electrochemical performance of battery electrode materials

Solid-state reactions are an essential part of the synthesis of various cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).Despite the simplicity and effectiveness for mass production,a subtle variation in synthesis conditions can often give rise to unexpectedly different physical properties,significantly affecting the electrochemical performance of electrode materials.However,this aspect has long been overlooked in the LIB community,which should focus on advancement in understanding the influence of synthesis conditions.As solid-state reactions occur only at the interface of precursor materials,maximizing the interfacial contact area between mixed precursor powders is crucial.Mechanical milling and/or mixing are common practices that have been performed in both academia and industry for this purpose.Unlike the common belief that this pre-treatment before calcination would be of great benefit for the preparation of high-performance LIB materials,we revealed in this work that this practice is not always successful for this goal.In our case study of the preparation of LiCoO_(2),we demonstrated that mechanical mixing-a routinely implemented process for homogeneous mixing of precursors-can be harmful if it is performed without assuring optimal working conditions for mixing.The underlying reasons for this surprising result are elucidated in this work,and we hope that this new insight can help avoid the potential pitfall of routine implementations performed for LIB materials.

Electrochemical performance of a nickel-rich LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries under different cut-off voltages

A spherical-like Ni_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)(OH)_2 precursor was tuned homogeneously to synthesize LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_2 as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.The effects of calcination temperature on the crystal structure,morphology,and the electrochemical performance of the as-prepared LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_2 were investigated in detail.The as-prepared material was characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,laser particle size analysis,charge–discharge tests,and cyclic voltammetry measurements.The results show that the spherical-like LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_2 material obtained by calcination at 900°C displayed the most significant layered structure among samples calcined at various temperatures,with a particle size of approximately 10 μm.It delivered an initial discharge capacity of 189.2 m Ah×g^(-1) at 0.2C with a capacity retention of 94.0% after 100 cycles between 2.7 and 4.3 V.The as-prepared cathode material also exhibited good rate performance,with a discharge capacity of 119.6 m Ah×g^(-1) at 5C.Furthermore,within the cut-off voltage ranges from 2.7 to 4.3,4.4,and 4.5 V,the initial discharge capacities of the calcined samples were 170.7,180.9,and 192.8 m Ah×g^(-1),respectively,at a rate of 1C.The corresponding retentions were 86.8%,80.3%,and 74.4% after 200 cycles,respectively.

A closed-loop process for recycling LiNi_xCo_yMn_((1-x-y))O_2 from mixed cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries

With the rapid development of consumer electronics and electric vehicles(EV), a large number of spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) have been generated worldwide. Thus, effective recycling technologies to recapture a significant amount of valuable metals contained in spent LIBs are highly desirable to prevent the environmental pollution and resource depletion. In this work, a novel recycling technology to regenerate a LiNi_(1/3)Co_(1/3)Mn_(1/3)O_2 cathode material from spent LIBs with different cathode chemistries has been developed. By dismantling, crushing,leaching and impurity removing, the LiNi_(1/3)Co_(1/3)Mn_(1/3)O_2(selected as an example of LiNi_xCo_yMn_(1-x-y)O_2) powder can be directly prepared from the purified leaching solution via co-precipitation followed by solid-state synthesis. For comparison purposes, a fresh-synthesized sample with the same composition has also been prepared using the commercial raw materials via the same method. X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and electrochemical measurements have been carried out to characterize these samples. The electrochemical test result suggests that the re-synthesized sample delivers cycle performance and low rate capability which are comparable to those of the freshsynthesized sample. This novel recycling technique can be of great value to the regeneration of a pure and marketable LiNi_xCo_yMn_(1-x-y)O_2 cathode material with low secondary pollution.

Influence of Doping Rare Earth on Performance of Lithium Manganese Oxide Spinels as Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Some rare earth doping spinel LiMn_(2-x)RE_xO_4 (RE=La, Ce, Nd) cathode materials for lithium ion batteries were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The structure characteristics of these produced samples were investigated by XRD, SEM, and particle size distribution analysis. According to the microstructure and charge-discharge testing, the effect of doping rare earth on stabilizing the spinel structure was analyzed. Through a series of doping experiments, it is shown that when the doping content x within the range of 0.01～0.02 the cycle performance of the materials is greatly improved. The discharge capacity of the sample LiMn_(1.98)La_(0.02)O_4, LiMn_(1.98)Ce_(0.02)O_4 and LiMn_(1.98)Nd_(0.02)O_4 remain 119.1, 114.2 and 117.5 mAh·g^(-1) after 50 cycles.

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Al-doped LiVPO_4F cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Al-doped LiVPO4F cathode materials LiAlxV1-xPO4F were prepared by two-step reactions based on a car-bothermal reduction （CTR） process. The properties of the Al-doped LiVPO4F were investigated by X-ray diffraction （XRD）,scanning electron microscopy （SEM）,and electrochemical measurements. XRD studies show that the Al-doped LiVPO4F has the same triclinic structure （space group p-↑1 ） as the undoped LiVPO4F. The SEM images exhibit that the particle size of Al-doped LiVPO4F is smaller than that of the undoped LiVPO4F and that the smallest particle size is only about 1 μm. The Al-doped LiVPO4F was evaluated as a cathode material for secondary lithium batteries,and exhibited an improved reversibility and cycleability,which may be attributed to the addition of Al^3＋ ion by stabilizing the triclinic structure.

Two-Dimensional Black Phosphorus: An Emerging Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Two-dimensional black phosphorus(2D BP),an emerging material,has aroused tremendous interest once discovered.This is due to the fact that it integrates unprecedented properties of other 2D materials,such as tunable bandgap structures,outstanding electrochemical properties,anisotropic mechanical,thermodynamic,and photoelectric properties,making it of great research value in many fields.The emergence of 2D BP has greatly promoted the development of electrochemical energy storage devices,especially lithium-ion batteries.However,in the application of 2D BP,there are still some problems to be solved urgently,such as the difficulty in the synthesis of large-scale high-quality phosphorene,poor environmental stability,and the volume expansion as electrode materials.Herein,according to the latest research progress of 2D BP in the field of energy storage,we systematically summarize and compare the preparation methods of phosphorene and discuss the basic structure and properties of BP,especially the environmental instability and passivation techniques.In particular,the practical application and challenges of 2D BP as anode material for lithium-ion batteries are analyzed in detail.Finally,some personal perspectives on the future development and challenges of BP are presented.

A novel synthetic route for LiFePO_4/C cathode materials by addition of starch for lithium-ion batteries

LiFePO4/Carbon composite cathode material was prepared using starch as carbon source by spray-pelleting and subsequent pyrolysis in N2. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, Raman, and their electrochemical performance was investigated in terms of cycling behavior. There has a special micro-morphology via the process, which is favorable to electrochemical properties. The discharge capacity of the LiFePO4.C composite was 170 mAh g-1, equal to the theoretical specific capacity at 0.1 C rate. At 4 C current density, the specific capacity was about 80 mAh g-1, which can satisfy for transportation applications if having a more flat discharge flat.