Physicochemical and Electrochemical Characteristics of Carbon Nanomaterials and Carbon Nanomaterial-Silicon Composites

In this study, the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of carbon nanomaterials and synthesized nano-carbon/Si composites were studied. The nano-carbon/Si composites were ball-milled to a nano size and coated with pyrolytic carbon using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). They were then finely mixed with respective nano-carbon materials. The physicochemical properties of samples were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and surface area analyzer. The electrochemical characteristics were investigated using the galvanostatic charge-discharge and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. Three-electrode cells were fabricated using the carbon nanomaterials and nano-carbon/Si composites as anode materials and LiPF₆ and LiClO₄ as electrolytes of Li secondary batteries. Reversibility using LiClO₄ as an electrolyte was superior to that of LiPF₆ as the electrolyte. The initial discharge capacities of nano-carbon/Si composites were increased compared to the initial discharge capacities of nano-carbon materials.