Core-shell structured electrode materials for lithium ion batteries

Recent progress in studies of several types of core-shell structured electrode materials, including TiO₂/C, Si/C, Si/SiO _x , LiCoO₂/C, and LiFePO₄/C nanocomposites, including details of their preparation and their electrochemical performance is briefly reviewed. Results clearly show that the coating shell can effectively prevent the aggregation of the nanosized cores, which are the electrochemically active materials. In addition, the diffusion coefficients of lithium ions can be increased, and the reversibility of lithium intercalation and deintercalation is improved. As a result, the cycling behavior is greatly improved. The reviewed results suggest that core-shell nanocomposites are a good starting point for further development of new promising electrode materials.

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Mesoporous electrode material from alumina-stabilized anatase TiO2 for lithium ion batteries

A mesoporous electrode material whose structure is composed of anatase nanocrystals stabilized by alumina is reported. Powder X-ray diffraction shows the anatase phase only, but micro-Raman spectroscopy shows that the materials have a core-shell morphology with grains of bulk anatase covered by a thin rutile layer on the surface. This structure is unique when compared to analogous materials stabilized by zirconia (PNNL-1). Nitrogen adsorption isotherms demonstrate a monotonous increase in surface area and mesopore volume with increasing Al content. Thin film electrodes from these materials were characterized by lithium insertion electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammograms exhibit significant differences in Li accommodation in Al-free and Al-stabilized materials.     

Vanadium oxide gels as electrode materials for lithium batteries

Electrochemical lithium insertion has been studied in a large number of vanadium oxides with three dimensional framework structure. Several of these oxides have shown high capacities for lithium insertion and good reversibility.Pure solutions of decavanadic acid have shown to undergo spontaneous polycondensation reaction forming sols or gels of highly polymerized vanadium oxides, M _w 10⁶. After dehydration a series of xerogels with varying amounts of water, V₂O₅ · nH₂O, can be obtained. The structure of these xerogels consists of ribbons of corner and edge sharing VO₆ octahedra stabilized by interlayer water molecules. Under ambient conditions the water content corresponds to n=1.8, but this value can be reversibly changed under mild drying conditions.This report deals with the electrochemical insertion of lithium in dried vanadium oxide xerogels, with special regard to the use of these materials as electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries.     

Hydrolysis lignin-based organic electrode material for primary lithium batteries

The possibility of using hydrolysis lignin as a cathode material for primary lithium batteries has been demonstrated for the first time. The electroconductivity, morphology, and element composition of hydrolysis lignin have been investigated by means of the methods of impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The main parameters and the behavior of lignin-based lithium batteries were studied using two electrolyte systems: 1 M LiBF₄ in γ-butyrolacton and 1 M LiClO₄ in propylene carbonate. The chemical composition of cathode materials upon battery discharge down to 0.9 V was studied by the methods of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The suggestions on possible electrochemical reactions occurring in the lithium/hydrolysis lignin system were made on the basis of the products composition analysis.     

Nanometer Cr2O3-doped MnO2 spheres for rechargeable lithium batteries

Nanometer manganese dioxide spheres were prepared by water/oil microemulsion technology using sodium pyrosulfite and potassium permanganate as the raw materials. The scanning electron microscopy and the transmission electron microscopy images showed that the as-prepared MnO₂ particles aggregated with many nanosize spheres with an average diameter about 100 nm. From the X-ray diffraction patterns, it suggested that the achieved materials had the crystal structure of α-MnO₂. The electrochemical properties of the nanometer MnO₂ spheres doped with various amounts of Cr₂O₃ were studied in detail in this paper. The results revealed that the MnO₂ particles doped with 4 wt.% Cr₂O₃ can maintain more than 150 mAh g⁻¹, which is about 84% of the initial specific capacity, even after 50 cycles indicating a promising application in the rechargeable lithium batteries.     

Functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials for lithium secondary batteries

The synthetic routes of porous carbons and the applications of the functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials for lithium secondary batteries are reviewed. The synthetic methods have made great breakthroughs to control the pore size and volume, wall thickness, surface area, and connectivity of porous carbons, which result in the development of functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials. The effects of porous carbons on the electrochemical properties are further discussed. The porous carbons as ideal matrixes to incorporate active materials make a great improvement on the electrochemical properties because of high surface area and pore volume, excellent electronic conductivity, and strong adsorption capacity. Large numbers of the composite electrode materials have been used for the devices of electrochemical energy conversion and storage, such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), Li-S batteries, and Li-O2 batteries. It is believed that functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials will continuously contribute to the field of lithium secondary batteries.     

Fe2O3锂离子电池负极材料研究进展

Fe2O3锂离子电池负极材料因其具有的高能量密度而备受关注。但Fe2O3电极材料存在的如低导电性、充/放电过程中体积改变导致的循环稳定性差等问题限制其实际应用。介绍了高比表面积、结构稳定以及储锂动力学等因素对锂离子电池负极材料电化学性能的重要影响,综述电极活性材料纳米化、形貌控制和杂原子掺杂对Fe2O3负极材料电化学性能改善的相关研究进展,最后对Fe2O3电极材料的发展前景进行了展望。     

The lithium intercalation compound Li2CoSiO4 and its behaviour as a positive electrode for lithium batteries

The electrochemical behaviour of 3 polymorphs of the lithium intercalation compound Li2CoSiO4, betaI, betaII and gamma0, as positive electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries is investigated for the first time.     

Reversible lithium storage in Na2Li2Ti6O14 as anode for lithium ion batteries

The sodium lithium titanate with composition Na₂Li₂Ti₆O₁₄ has been synthesized by a sol–gel method. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) of the thermal decomposition process of the precursor and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data indicate the crystallization of sodium lithium titanate has occurred at about 600 °C. Electrochemical lithium insertion into Na₂Li₂Ti₆O₁₄ for lithium ion battery has been investigated for the first time. These results indicate the discharge and charge potential plateaus are about 1.3 V. The initial discharge capacity is much higher than the charge capacity and irreversible capacity exists in the voltage window 1–3 V. Subsequently, the discharge capacity decreases slowly, but the charge capacity increases slightly in the following cycles. After a few cycles, the specific capacity remains almost constant values and the sample exhibits the excellent retention of capacity on cycling.     

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)V2O5 hybrids for lithium batteries

A series of hybrid electrode materials, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/V₂O₅, has been synthesized using an oxidative insertion and polymerization reaction. FTIR, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies have shown that the incorporation of polymer between V₂O₅ slabs leads to an enhanced bidimensionality. The electrochemical lithium capacity has been increased up to ∼330 mAh/g at the second discharge in the range of 2.0–4.4 V vs. Li. This improvement of electrochemical performance compared to pristine V₂O₅ is attributed to the higher electric conductivity and enhanced bidimensionality.     

Rechargeable molecular cluster batteries

We fabricated a rechargeable molecular cluster battery, based on a cathode active material, [Mn(12)O(12)(CH(3)COO)(16)(H(2)O)(4)]. The charging-discharging experiments revealed rechargeable battery performance with a capacity of ca. 90 A h kg(-1), while the first discharging process exhibited an extremely high value of 200-250 A h kg(-1).     

Charge ordering in lithium vanadium phosphates: electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

The delithiation process in monoclinic Li3V2(PO4)3 has been determined by powder neutron diffraction coupled with 7Li solid-state NMR techniques. Charge ordering of vanadium (V3+/V4+) was observed in Li2V2(PO4)3 as shown by the gray and blue V-O octahedra, respectively, indicating that the electrons are pinned in this phase and hence transport is limited.     

Preparation of spherical spinel LiMn2O4 cathode material for lithium ion batteries

A novel process is proposed for synthesis of spinel LiMn₂O₄ with spherical particles from the inexpensive materials MnSO₄, NH₄HCO₃, and NH₃H₂O. The successful preparation started with carefully controlled crystallization of MnCO₃, leading to particles of spherical shape and high tap density. Thermal decomposition of MnCO₃ was investigated by both DTA and TG analysis and XRD analysis of products. A precursor of product, spherical Mn₂O₃, was then obtained by heating MnCO₃. A mixture of Mn₂O₃ and Li₂CO₃ was then sintered to produce LiMn₂O₄ with retention of spherical particle shape. It was found that if lithium was in stoichiometric excess of 5% in the calcination of spinel LiMn₂O₄, the product had the largest initial specific capacity. In this way spherical particles of spinel LiMn₂O₄ were of excellent fluidity and dispersivity, and had a tap density as high as 1.9 g cm^–3 and an initial discharge capacity reaching 125 mAh g^–1. When surface-doped with cobalt in a 0.01 Co/Mn mole ratio, although the initial discharge capacity decreased to 118 mAh g^–1, the 100th cycle capacity retention reached 92.4% at 25°C. Even at 55°C the initial discharge capacity reached 113 mAh g^–1 and the 50th cycle capacity retention was in excess of 83.8%.     

FTIR features of lithium-iron phosphates as electrode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

The essential structural features of lithium-metal phosphates (LMP) have been studied using FTIR spectroscopy which is a sensitive tool to probe the local environment in the solid materials. Various LMP materials where M is iron have been investigated including phospho-olivine LiFePO(4), diphosphate LiFeP(2)O(7), Nasicon-type phosphate Li(3)Fe(2)(PO(4))(3) and dihydrate FePO(4).2H(2)O. Vitreous and amorphous materials are also considered. Analysis of internal and external modes of vibration allows to distinguish between the different phases and the type of cationic environment in the framework. Results corroborate the contribution of the main factors which are responsible for the complexity of the spectra, i.e. departure from ideal symmetry, interactions between polyhedra, bridging atoms and lattice distortion.     

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of LiMn2O4 cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

LiMn₂O₄ cathode materials with high discharge capacity and good cyclic stability were prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal treatment of KMnO₄, aniline and LiOH solutions at 120–180 °C for 24 h. The aniline/KMnO₄ molar ratio (R) and hydrothermal temperature exhibited an obvious influence on the component and phase structures of the resulting product. The precursor KMnO₄ was firstly reduced to birnessite when R was less than 0.2:1 at 120–150 °C. Pure-phased LiMn₂O₄ was formed when R was 0.2:1, and the LiMn₂O₄ was further reduced to Mn₃O₄ when R was kept in the range of 0.2–0.3 at 120–150 °C. Moreover, LiMn₂O₄ was fabricated when R was 0.15:1 at 180 °C. Octahedron-like LiMn₂O₄ about 300 nm was prepared at 120 °C, and particle size decreased with an increase in hydrothermal temperature. Especially, LiMn₂O₄ synthesized at 150 °C exhibited the best electrochemical performance with the highest initial discharge capacity of 127.4 mAh g⁻¹ and cycling capacity of 106.1 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles. The high discharge capacity and cycling stability of the as-prepared LiMn₂O₄ cathode for rechargeable lithium batteries were ascribed to the appropriate particle size and larger cell volume.     

A review on electrode and electrolyte for lithium ion batteries under low temperature

Under low temperature (LT) conditions (−80 °C∼0 °C), lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) may experience the formation of an extensive solid electrolyte interface (SEI), which can cause a series of detrimental effects such as Li⁺ deposition and irregular dendritic filament growth on the electrolyte surface. These issues ultimately lead to the degradation of the LT performance of LIBs. As a result, new electrode/electrolyte materials are necessary to address these challenges and enable the proper functioning of LIBs at LT. Given that most electrochemical reactions in lithium-ion batteries occur at the electrode/electrolyte interface, finding solutions to mitigate the negative impact caused by SEI is crucial to improve the LT performance of LIBs. In this article, we analyze and summarize the recent studies on electrode and electrolyte materials for low temperature lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These materials include both metallic materials like tin, manganese, and cobalt, as well as non-metallic materials such as graphite and graphene. Modified materials, such as those with nano or alloying characteristics, generally exhibit better properties than raw materials. For instance, Sn nanowire-Si nanoparticles (SiNPs−In-SnNWs) and tin dioxide carbon nanotubes (SnO₂@CNT) have faster Li⁺ transport rates and higher reversible capacity at LT. However, it′s important to note that when operating under LT, the electrolyte may solidify, leading to difficulty in Li⁺ transmission. The compatibility between the electrolyte and electrode can affect the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and the stability of the electrode/electrolyte system. Therefore, a good electrode/electrolyte system is crucial for successful operation of LIBs at LT.     

Self-stacked Co3O4 nanosheets for high-performance lithium ion batteries

Self-stacked Co(3)O(4) nanosheets separated by carbon layers were synthesized via a facile method. They exhibit excellent electrochemical performance that results from superior electronic conductivity endowed by carbon, a reduced Li(+) diffusion length within the building blocks and a large electrode/electrolyte contact area due to the interspaces between the blocks.