• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.598-598
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• 2012

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have been considered the most attractive power sources for mobile electronic devices. Although graphite is widely used as the anode material for commercial lithium-ion batteries, it cannot fulfill the requirement for higher storage capacity because of its insufficient theoretical capacity of 372 mAh/g. For the sake of replacing graphite, Sn-based materials have been extensively investigated as anode materials because they can have much higher theoretical capacities (994 mAh/g for Sn, 875 mAh/g for SnO, 783 mAh/g for $SnO_2$). However, these materials generate huge volume expansion and shrinkage during $Li^+$ intercalation and de-intercalation and result in the pulverization and cracking of the contact between anode materials and current collector. Therefore, there have been significant efforts of avoiding these drawbacks by using nanostructures. In this study, we present the CVD growth of SnO branched nanostructures on Cu current collector without any binder, using a combinatorial system of the vapor transport method and resistance heating technique. The growth mechanism of SnO branched nanostructures is introduced. The SnO nanostructures are evaluated as an anode for lithium-ion battery. Remarkably, they exhibited very high discharge capacities, over 520mAh/g and good coulombic efficiency up to 50 cylces.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.288-288
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• 2013

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) is one of the most important rechargeable battery and portable energy storage for the electric digital devices. In particular, study about the higher energy capacity and longer cycle life is intensively studied because of applications in mobile electronics and electric vehicles. Generally, the LIB's capacity can be improved by replacing anode materials with high capacitance. The graphite, common anode materials, has a good cyclability but shows limitations of capacity (~374 mAh/g). On the contrary, silicon (Si) and germanium(Ge), which is same group elements, are promising candidate for high-performance LIB electrodes because it has a higher theoretical specific capacity. (Si:4200 mAh/g, Ge:1600 mAh/g) However, it is well known that Si volume change by 400% upon full lithiation (lithium insertion into Si), which result in a mechanical pulverization and poor capacity retention during cycling. Therefore, variety of nanostructure group IV elements, including nanoparticles, nanowires, and hollow nanospheres, can be promising solution about the critical issues associated with the large volume change. However, the fundamental research about correlation between the composition and structure for LIB anode is not studied yet. Herein, we successfully synthesized various structure of nanowire such as Si-Ge, Ge-Carbon and Si-graphene core-shell types and analyzed the properties of LIB. Nanowires (NWs) were grown on stainless steel substrates using Au catalyst via VLS (Vapor Liquid Solid) mechanism. And, core-shell NWs were grown by VS (Vapor-Solid) process on the surface of NWs. In order to characterize it, we used FE-SEM, HR-TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. We measured battery property of various nanostructures for checking the capacity and cyclability by cell-tester.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.3333-3337
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• 2011

$ZnMn_2O_4$ has been prepared by a mechanochemical process using a mixture of $Mn_2O_3$ and ZnO as starting materials, and investigated as a possible anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The phase evolution and morphologies of the ball-milled and annealed powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive microanalysis (EDX), respectively. The solid-state reaction for the formation of $ZnMn_2O_4$, under the given experimental conditions, is achieved in a short time (30 min), and the prepared samples exhibit excellent electrochemical performances including an enhanced initial coulombic efficiency, high reversible capacity, and stable capacity retention with cycling.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.277-278
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• 2008

Orthorhombic $LiMnO_2$(o-$LiMnO_2$) has attracted public attentions as a cathode materials of Lithium ion battery because it has low cost and high theoretical discharge capacity of 285mAh $g^{-1}$. In our study, o-$LiMnO_2$ is synthesized by quenching method. To verify their phase structure, X-ray diffraction is accomplished. Test cells are assembled to check electrochemical characteristics using acquired o-$LiMnO_2$ cathode and carbon anode. Charge/Discharge cycling was carried out for 50cycles. And impedance was measured at 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, 50cycle. During cycle test, the max discharge capacity was recorded 139mAh $g^{-1}$ at 10cycle.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2011

Herein, a novel preparation method of highly homogeneous carbon-silicon composite materials was presented. In contrast to conventional solvent evaporation method, a milled silicon-graphite or its oxidized material were directly reacted with petroleum-derived pitch precursor. After thermal reaction under high pressure, pitch-graphite-silicon composite was prepared. Carbon-graphite-silicon composite were prepared by an air-oxidization and following carbonization. From energy dispersive spectroscopy, it was observed that small Si particles were highly embedded within carbon, which was confirmed by disappearance of Si peaks in Raman spectra. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra revealed that carbon crystallinity decreased when the strongly oxidized silicon-graphite was added, which was probably due to oxygen-induced cross-linking. From the anode application in lithium ion batteries, carbon-graphite-silicon composite anode displayed a high capacity ($565\;mAh\;g^{-1}$), a good initial efficiency (68%) and an good cyclability (88% retention at 50 cycles), which were attributed to the high dispersion of Si particles within cabon. In case of the strongly oxidized silicongraphite addtion, a decrease of reversible capacity was observed due to its low crystallinity.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2016

Tin is one of the most promising anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries with a high energy density. However, the commercialization of tin-based anodes is still hindered due to the large volume change (over 260%) upon lithiation/delithiation cycling. To solve the problem, many efforts have been focused on enhancing structural stability of tin particles in electrodes. In this work, we synthesize tin nano-powders with an amorphous carbon layer on the surface and surroundings of the powder by electrical wire explosion in alcohol-based liquid media at room temperature. The morphology and microstructures of the powders are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical properties of the powder for use as an anode material for lithium-ion battery are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and a galvanometric discharge-charge method. It is shown that the carbon-coated tin nano-powders prepared in hexanol media exhibit a high initial charge specific capacity of 902 mAh/g and a high capacity retention of 89% after 50 cycles.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.249-256
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• 2017

We design Ge-Al multilayer assemblies as anode materials for Li-ion batteries, in which Ge and Al thin films are alternately deposited by a radio sputtering method. By sandwiching Ge layers between Al layer, the cyclability, rate capability, and capacity of Ge are improved significantly. The success of the Ge-Al multilayer is attributed to the Al films. To maintain the integrity of electrical contact, Al acts as an elastic layer, which can expand or shrink with the Ge film upon lithiation or delithiation. In addition, the presence of the Al film on the surface can prevent direct contact of Ge and electrolyte, thereby reducing the growth of a SEI layer. Importantly, with high electrical and ionic conductivities, the Al film provides efficient electrical and ionic routes for electrons and Li-ions to access the Ge film, promoting a high specific capacity and high rate capability for Ge.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.741-746
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• 2010

Three-dimensionally ordered macro-porous Sn-C composites were prepared by using polystyrene microsphere as a template. The Sn-C composites were composed of well-interconnected pore with circular shape and wall structure with wall thickness of a few tens of nano-meters. This porous three-dimensional structure is readily and uniformly accessible to the electrolyte, which facilitates lithium ion diffusion during charge-discharge reactions. The wall thickness of the composites was increased as the increase of Sn content of the composite. From EDS analysis, it is confirmed that the Sn was dispersed uniformly in Sn-C composites. The capacity was increased as the Sn content increased, which is due to Sn anode with high capacity. The Sn-C composites with high Sn content showed superior cyclic performances. Such enhancement is ascribed to the thick wall thickness and small pore size of the sample with high Sn content. The Sn-C composite with Sn 30 wt% showed relatively high capacity and stable cycle life, however, the stability of the 3-dimensional structure should be enhanced by further work.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2022

Transition metal sulfide materials have emerged as a new anode material for Li secondary batteries owing to their high capacity and rate capability facilitated by fast Li-ion transport through the layered structure. Among these materials, niobium disulfide (NbS₂) has attracted much attention with its high electrical conductivity and high theoretical capacity (683 mAh g^-1). In this study, we propose a facile synthesis of Fe_xNbS₂/C composite via simple ball milling and heat treatment. The starting materials of FeS and Nb were reacted in the first milling step and transformed into an Fe-Nb-S composite. In the second milling step, activated carbon was incorporated and the sulfide was crystallized into Fe_xNbS₂ by heat treatment. The prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron spectroscopies, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical test results reveal that the synthesized Fe_xNbS₂/C composite electrode demonstrates a high reversible capacity of more than 600 mAh g^-1, stable cycling stability, and excellent rate performance for Li-ion battery anodes.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.517-521
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• 2009

Si-C composite with hollow spherical structure was synthesized using ultrasonic treatment of organosilica powder formed by hydrolysis of phenyltrimethoxysilane. The prepared powder was pyrolyzed at various temperatures ranging from 900 to 1300 $^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen atmosphere to obtain optimum conditions for Li-ion battery anode materials with high capacity and cyclability. The XRD and elemental analysis results show that the pyrolyzed Si/C composite at 1100 $^{\circ}C$ has low oxygen and nitrogen levels, which is desirable for increasing the electrochemical capacity and reducing the irreversible capacity of the first discharge. The solid Si-C composite electrode shows a first charge capacity of $\sim$500 mAhg$^{-1}$ and a capacity fade within 30 cycles of 0.93% per cycle. On the other hand, the electrochemical performance of the hollow Si-C composite electrode exhibits a reversible charge capacity of $\sim$540 mAhg$^{-1}$ with an excellent capacity retention of capacity loss 0.43% per cycle up to 30 cycles. The improved electrochemical properties are attributed to facile diffusion of Li ions into the hollow shell with nanoscale thickness. In addition, the empty core space provides a buffer zone to relieve the mechanical stresses incurred during Li insertion.