A Single-Layer Piezoelectric Composite Separator for Durable Operation of Li Metal Anode at High Rates

Piezoelectric ceramic and polymeric separators have been proposed to effectively regulate Li deposition and suppress dendrite growth,but such separators still fail to satisfactorily support durable operation of lithium metal batteries owing to the fragile ceramic layer or low-piezoelectricity polymer as employed.Herein,by combining PVDF-HFP and ferroelectric BaTiO_(3),we develop a homogeneous,single-layer composite separator with strong piezoelectric effects to inhibit dendrite growth while maintaining high mechanical strength.As squeezed by local protrusion,the polarized PVDF-HFP/BaTiO_(3)composite separator generates a local voltage to suppress the local-intensified electric field and further deconcentrate regional lithium-ion flux to retard lithium deposition on the protrusion,hence enabling a smoother and more compact lithium deposition morphology than the unpoled composite separator and the pure PVDF-HFP separator,especially at high rates.Remarkably,the homogeneous incorporation of BaTiO_(3)highly improves the piezoelectric performances of the separator with residual polarization of 0.086 pC cm^(-2)after polarization treatment,four times that of the pure PVDF-HFP separator,and simultaneously increases the transference number of lithium-ion from 0.45 to 0.57.Beneficial from the prominent piezoelectric mechanism,the polarized PVDF-HFP/BaTiO_(3)composite separator enables stable cyclic performances of Li||LiFePO_(4)cells for 400 cycles at 2 C(1 C=170 mA g^(-1))with a capacity retention above 99%,and for 600 cycles at 5 C with a capacity retention over 85%.

Tempura-like carbon/carbon composite as advanced anode materials for K-ion batteries

Graphite as a promising anode candidate of K-ion batteries(KIBs)has been increasingly studied currently,but corresponding rate performance and cycling stability are usually inferior to amorphous carbon materials.To protect the layer structure and further boost performance,tempura-like carbon/carbon nanocomposite of graphite@pitch-derived S-doped carbon(G@PSC)is designed and prepared by a facile and low-temperature modified molten salt method.This robust encapsulation structure makes their respective advantages complementary to each other,showing mutual promotion of electrochemical performances caused by synergy effect.As a result,the G@PSC electrode is applied in KIBs,delivering impressive rate capabilities(465,408,370,332,290,and 227 m A h g^(-1)at 0.05,0.2,0.5,1,2,and 5 A g^(-1))and ultralong cyclic stability(163 m A g^(-1)remaining even after 8000 cycles at 2 A g^(-1)).On basis of ex-situ studies,the sectionalized K-storage mechanism with adsorption(pseudocapacitance caused by S doping)-intercalation(pitch-derived carbon and graphite)pattern is revealed.Moreover,the exact insights into remarkable rate performances are taken by electrochemical kinetics tests and density functional theory calculation.In a word,this study adopts a facile method to synthesize high-performance carbon/carbon nanocomposite and is of practical significance for development of carbonaceous anode in KIBs.

The Microparticles SiOx Loaded on PAN-C Nanofiber as Three-Dimensional Anode Material for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Three-dimensional C/SiOx nanofiber anode was prepared by polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)and polyacrylonitrile(PAN)as precursors via electrospinning and freeze-drying successfully.In contrast to conventional carbon cover-ing Si-based anode materials,the C/SiOx structure is made up of PAN-C,a 3D carbon substance,and SiOx load-ing steadily on PAN-C.The PAN carbon nanofibers and loaded SiOx from pyrolyzed PDMS give increased conductivity and a stable complex structure.When employed as lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)anode materials,C/SiOx-1%composites were discovered to have an extremely high lithium storage capacity and good cycle per-formance.At a current density of 100 mA/g,its reversible capacity remained at 761 mA/h after 50 charge-dis-charge cycles and at 670 mA/h after 200 cycles.The C/SiOx-1%composite aerogel is a particularly intriguing anode candidate for high-performance LIBs due to these appealing qualities.

Fabrication,characterization and electrochemical properties of porous coral-structured Si/C composite anode for lithium ion battery

A porous coral-structured Si/C composite as an anode material was fabricated by coating Si nanoparticles with a carbon layer from polyvinyl alcohol（PVA）, erosion of hydrofluoric（HF） acid, and secondary coating with pitch. Three samples with different pitch contents of 30%, 40% and 50% were synthesized. The composition and morphology of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffractometry（XRD） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, respectively, and the properties were tested by electrochemical measurements. The results indicated that the composites showed obviously enhanced electrochemical performance compared with that without secondary carbon coating. The second discharge capacity of the composite was 773 m A·h/g at a current density of 100 m A/g, and still retained 669 m A·h/g after 60 cycles with a small capacity fade of less than 0.23%/cycle, while the content of secondary carbon source of pitch was set at 40%. Therefore, the cycle stability of the composite could be excellently improved by regulating carbon content of secondary coating.

Nano-crystalline FeOOH mixed with SWNT matrix as a superior anode material for lithium batteries

Nano-crystalline FeOOH particles （5-10 nm） have been uniformly mixed with electric matrix of single-walled carbon nanotubes （SWNTs） for forming FeOOH/SWNT composite via a facile ultrasonication method. Directly using the FeOOH/SWNT composite （containing 15 wt% SWNTs） as anode material for lithium battery enhances kinetics of the Li＋ insertion/extraction processes, thereby effectively improving re- versible capacity and cycle performance, which delivers a high reversible capacity of 758 mAh.g-1 under a current density of 400 mA.g-1 even after 180 cycles, being comparable with previous reports in terms of electrochemical performance for FeOOH anode. The good electrochemical performance should be ascribed to the small particle size and nano-crystalline of FeOOH, as well as the good electronic conductivity of SWNT matrix.

Coral-Like Yolk–Shell-Structured Nickel Oxide/Carbon Composite Microspheres for High-Performance Li-Ion Storage Anodes

In this study, coral?like yolk–shell?structured NiO/C composite microspheres(denoted as CYS?NiO/C) were prepared using spray pyrolysis. The unique yolk–shell structure was characterized, and the formation mechanism of the structure was proposed. Both the phase separation of the polyvinylpyrrolidone and polystyrene(PS) colloidal solution and the decompo?sition of the size?controlled PS nanobeads in the droplet played crucial roles in the formation of the unique coral?like yolk–shell structure. The CYS?NiO/C microspheres delivered a reversible discharge capacity of 991 mAh g^(-1) after 500 cycles at the current density of 1.0 A g^(-1). The dis?charge capacity of the CYS?NiO/C microspheres after the 1000 th cycle at the current density of 2.0 A g^(-1) was 635 mAh g^(-1), and the capacity retention measured from the second cycle was 91%. The final discharge capacities of the CYS?NiO/C microspheres at the current densities of 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 10.0 A g^(-1) were 753, 648, 560, 490, 440, and 389 mAh g^(-1), respectively. The synergetic e ect of the coral?like yolk–shell structure with well?defined interconnected mesopores and highly conductive carbon resulted in the excellent Li+?ion storage properties of the CYS?NiO/C microspheres.

Electrochemical characteristics of CoSn_x alloy composite anode for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries

Nano/micro-scaled CoSnx alloy powders synthesized via carbothermal reduction at 800 ℃ with different compositions were characterized for anode materials in Li-ion battery. The synthesized spherical CoSnx particles show a loose nano/micro sized particle structural characteristic, which is apparently favorable for the improvement of cycling stability. The prepared CoSn3 alloy composite electrode exhibits a low initial irreversible capacity of ca.130 mAh·g-1 and a high specific capacity of ca.440 mAh·g-1 at constant current density of 100 mA·g-1. The relatively large particle size is considered to be the main reason for the lower irreversible capacity of CoSn3 electrode.

Size effect of Si particles on the electrochemical performances of Si/C composite anodes

A series of Si/C composites were fabricated based on pitch and Si powders with particle sizes of 30, 100, 500, and 3000 nm. The size effects of the Si particles in the Si/C composites were investigated for lithium-ion battery anodes. The nanoscale Si and Si/C composites exhibited good capacity retentions. Scanning electron microscopy showed that exterior and interior cracks emerging owing to volume expansion as well as parasitic reactions with the electrolyte could well explain the performance failure.

Development of High Efficient Composite Anodes

A new type of high efficient Ti composite anodes for electrodeposition of MnO 2 was successfully developed and was widely satisfied with production in many factories in China. The process parameters of electrolysis in using the composite anodes were optimized and discussed.

La_(0.75)Sr_(0.25)Cr_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)O_(3)-δ−Ce_(0.8)Gd_(0.2)O_(1.9) composite electrodes as anodes in LaGaO_(3)-based direct carbon solid oxide fuel cells

Direct carbon solid oxide fuel cells(DC-SOFCs)are promising,green,and efficient power-generating devices that are fueled by solid carbons and comprise all-solid-state structures.Developing suitable anode materials for DC-SOFCs is a substantial scientific challenge.Herein we investigated the use of La_(0.75)Sr_(0.25)Cr_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)O_(3)-δ−Ce_(0.8)Gd_(0.2)O_(1.9)(LSCM−GDC)composite electrodes as anodes for La_(0.9)Sr_(0.1)Ga_(0.8)Mg_(0.2)O_(3)-δelectrolyte-based DC-SOFCs,with Camellia oleifera shell char as the carbon fuel.The LSCM−GDC-anode DC-SOFC delivered a maximum power density of 221 mW/cm^(2) at 800℃ and it significantly improved to 425 mW/cm^(2) after Ni nanoparticles were introduced into the LSCM−GDC anode through wet impregnation.The microstructures of the prepared anodes were characterized,and the stability of the anode in a DC-SOFC and the influence of catalytic activity on open circuit voltage were studied.The above results indicate that LSCM–GDC anode is promising to be applied in DC-SOFCs.

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.

Fe_(2)O_(3)-MWNTs Composite with Reinforced Concrete Structure as High-performance Anode Material for Lithium-ion Batteries

A Fe_(2)O_(3)-MWNTs(multi-walled carbon nanotubes)composite with a reinforced concrete structure was fabricated employing a two-step method which involves a sol-gel process followed by high-temperature in situ sintering.This Fe_(2)O_(3)-MWNTs composite,intended to be used as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries,maintained a reversible capacity as high as 896.3 mA·h/g after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA/g and the initial coulombic efficiency reached 75.5%.The rate capabilities of the Fe_(2)O_(3)-MWNTs composite,evaluated using the ratios of capacity at 100,200,500,1000,2000 and 100 mA/g after every 10 cycles,were determined to be 904.7,852.1,759.0,653.8,566.8 and 866.3 mA·h/g,respectively.Such a superior electrochemical performance of the Fe_(2)O_(3)-MWNTs composite is mainly attributed to the reinforced concrete construction,in which the MWNTs function as the skeleton and conductive network.Such a structure contributes to shortening the transport pathways for both Li+and electrons,enhancing conductivity and accommodating volume expansion during prolonged cycling.This Fe_(2)O_(3)-MWNTs composite with the designed structure is a promising anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

In situ anchoring in carbon matrix of Bi_(2)O_(2)CO_(3) as a high-performance anode material for Li-ion batteries

Bismuth-based anode materials have been regarded as promising Li-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity.However,their low conductivity and associated volume expansion inhabited their commercialization.In this work,Bi_(2)O_(2)CO_(3)@C composites were successfully synthesized by in situ anchoring of flower-like Bi_(2)O_(2)CO_(3) nanosheets on a carbon-based substrate via hydrothermal.The unique composited structure of Bi_2O_(2)-CO_(3)@C leads to a stable specific capacity of 547 mAh·g^(-1)after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A·g^(-1).Notably,it demonstrates excellent rate capability with a specific capacity of 210 mAh·g^(-1)at 5 A·g^(-1).After 550 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A·g^(-1),a high reversible capacity of nearly 400 mAh·g^(-1)was observed.Additionally,in situ X-ray diffraction measurements clearly demonstrate the conversion between Bi and Li_(3)Bi during alloying/dealloying,confirming the good electrochemical reversibility of the materials for Li storage.The reaction kinetics of Bi_(2)O_(2)CO_(3)@C were further investigated using galvanostatic intermittent titration technique.Furthermore,Bi_2O_(2)-CO_(3)@C exhibited excellent long-term stability,maintaining its high reversible capacity for over 200 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A·g^(-1)in a full cell configuration using Li_(1.20)Mn_(0.54)Ni_(0.13)Co_(0.13)O_(2) as the cathode material.This result further underscores its promising potential for lithium-ion batteries.This work may provide inspiration for the design of alloy-type negative electrode materials for high-performance rechargeable batteries.

V_2O_5·nH_2O nanosheets and multi-walled carbon nanotube composite as a negative electrode for sodium-ion batteries

Two dimensional(2D) transition metal oxides and chalcogenides demonstrate a promising performance in sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) application. In this study, we investigated the use of a composite of freeze dried V_2O_5·nH_2O nanosheets and multi-walled carbon nanotube(MWCNT) as a negative electrode material for SIBs. Cyclic voltammetry(CV) results indicated that a reversible sodium-ion insertion/deinsertion into the composite electrode can be obtained in the potential window of 0.1–2.5 V vs. Na^+/Na. The composite electrodes delivered sodium storage capacities of 140 and 45 m Ah g^(-1) under applied current densities of 20 and 100 m A g^(-1), respectively. The pause test during constant current measurement showed a raise in the open circuit potential(OCP) of about 0.46 V, and a charge capacity loss of ～10%. These values are comparable with those reported for hard carbon electrodes. For comparison, electrodes of freeze dried V_2O_5·nH_2O nanosheets were prepared and tested for SIBs application. The results showed that the MWCNT plays a significant role in the electrochemical performance of the composite material.

Aerosol-assisted rapid synthesis of SnS-C composite microspheres as anode material for Na-ion batteries

SnS-C composite powders were prepared through one-pot spray pyrolysis for use as anode materials for Na-ion batteries. C microspheres with uniformly attached cubic-like SnS nanocrystals, which have an amorphous C coating layer, were formed at a preparation temperature of 900 ℃. The initial discharge capacities of the bare SnS and SnS-C composite powders at a current density of 500 mA·g^-1 were 695 and 740 mA·h·g^-1, respectively. The discharge capacities after 50 cycles and the capacity retentions measured from the second cycle of the bare SnS and SnS-C composite powders were 25 and 433 mA.h.g-1 and 5 and 89%, respectively. The prepared SnS-C composite powders with high reversible capacities and good cycle performance can be used as Na-ion battery anode materials.

Facile one-step synthesis of Cu_2O@Cu sub-microspheres composites as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Cu2O@Cu sub-microspheres composites with a narrow particle size distribution from 300 to 500 nm was successfully fabricated by one-step synthesis through the direct thermal decomposition of copper nitrate （Cu（NO3）2） in octadecylamine （ODA） solvent. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the Cu2O@Cu composites obviously possess high specific capacity, excellent cyclic stability and rate capability. The coulombic efficiency is about 84% in the 1 st cycle and increases significantly up to 97.8% during successive cycles at various current densities. Even under a high current density of 500 mA g^-l, the discharge capacity of Cu2O@Cu composites remains up to 200 mAh g^-1. The excellent electrochemical properties are ascribed to the synergistic effect between high electronic conductivity and volume-buffering capacity of metallic copper composited with Cu2O.2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science ＆ Technology.

Sulfonated polyaniline/vanadate composite as anode material and its electrochemical property in microbial fuel cells on ocean floor

A unique sulfonated polyaniline/vanadate composite was synthesized and utilized as a composite anode in microbial fuel cells on ocean floor (BMFCs). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to characterize its chemical composition and morphology. Wettability of the composite anodes decreases due to the addition of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The electrochemical behavior of the composite anodes was investigated by means of linear sweep voltammetry and Tafel plot measurements. Compared with the plain graphite anode,the composite anode significantly improves the power density,5.5-fold higher,reaching 187.1 mW/m2 and gives a 27-fold higher exchange current density and a higher kinetic activity. A novel synergistic mechanism between sulfonated polyaniline and vanadate is proposed to explain the excellent electrochemical performance. This composite thus has great potential to be used as an anode material for a high-power BMFC.

One-pot synthesis of Sb-Fe-carbon-fiber composites with in situ catalytic growth of carbon fibers

A Sb-Fe-carbon-fiber （CF） composite was prepared by a chemical vapor deposition （CVD） method with in situ growth of CFs us- ing Sb203/Fe2O3 as the precursor and acetylene （C2H2） as the carbon source. The Sb-Fe-CF composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, field emission scanning electron microscopy （FESEM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and its electrochemical per- formance was investigated by galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Sb-Fe-CF composite shows a better cycling stability than the Sb-amorphous-carbon composite prepared by the same CVD method but using Sb2O3 as the precur- sor. Improvements in cycling stability of the Sb-Fe-CF composite can be attributed to the formation of three-dimensional network structure by CFs, which can connect Sb particles firmly. In addition, the CF layer can buffer the volume change effectively.

Ge nanoparticles uniformly immobilized on 3D interconnected porous graphene frameworks as anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Germanium(Ge), an alloy-type anode material for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs), possesses many advantages such as high theoretical capacity and decent electrical conductivity. Nevertheless, its application is restricted by tremendous volume variation and tardy reaction kinetic during discharge/charge process.In this paper, the Ge/3DPG composites with Ge nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in 3D interconnected porous graphene(3DPG) skeleton are successfully prepared using a template-assisted in-situ reduction method. The unique 3D interconnected porous graphene can not only enhance the electronic conductivity and reaction kinetics of the materials, but also provide sufficient buffer space to effectively mitigate the volume expansion during cycling and strengthen the structural integrity. Moreover, the small-sized Ge nanoparticles in close conjunction with the 3D graphene can boost the surface-controlled reaction of the electrode, which contributes to a fast charge–discharge rate capability. The Ge/3DPG composite with optimized Ge/graphene mass ratio delivers high reversible specific capacity(1102 mAh g^(-1) after 100 cycles at 0.2 C), outstanding rate capability(494 mAh g^(-1) at 5 C), and admirable cycling stability(85.3% of capacity retention after 250 cycles at 0.5 C). This work provides a significant inspiration for the design and fabrication of advanced Ge-based anode materials for next-generation highperformance LIBs.

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of a novel nano sized Sn_2SbNi composite

Chemical reduction method was employed to prepare nano-sized Sn2SbNi alloy composites used as anode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries.This strategy was adopted to combine the virtues of both active/inactive and active/active alloys to fabricate a Sn2SbNi alloy powder with two active components and one inactive component.The two active components can realize the high capacity feature of electrode and can make the volume change of electrode take place in a stepwise manner due to the different lithiation potentials of two active components,leading to a stable cycling performance.Sn2SbNi alloy provides a reversible specific capacity over 640 mA·h/g with an excellent cyclic ability.The Sn-Sb-Ni alloy composite material shows to be a good candidate anode material for the lithium ion batteries.