• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.449-453
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• 2007

Synthesis of Sn-GIC (Graphite intercalated compound) and its electrochemical characteristics were investigated to find a method for enhancing the performance of carbon anode of lithium ion battery. The content of Sn intercalated in graphite interlayer increased with increase of concentration of $SnCl_2$ solution and increase of the heat treatment temperature of dried graphite after dipped in $SnCl_2$ solution, respectively. And initial discharge capacity increased upon increase of intercalated Sn content. Sn-GIC with excellent electrochemical performance, which can be synthesized by heat treatment at $900^{\circ}C$ after dipped in 1.0 M $SnCl_2$ solution, showed 356 mAh/g of initial discharge capacity and 13% of capacity decay after 10 cycles.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.139-142
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• 2018

Silicon (Si) is a promising anode material for next-generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high capacity of 4,200 mAh/g ($Li_{4.4}Si$ phase). However, the large volume expansion of Si during lithiation leads to electrical failure of electrode and rapid capacity decrease. Generally, a binder is homogeneously mixed with active materials to maintain electrical contact, so that Si needs a particular binding system due to its large volume expansion. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is known to form a hydrogen bond with partially hydrolyzed silicon oxide layer on Si nanoparticles. However, the decrease of its cohesiveness followed by the repeated volume change of Si still remains unsolved. To overcome this problem, we have introduced the electrospinning method to weave active materials in a stable nanofibrous PVA structure, where stresses from the large volume change of Si can be contained. We have confirmed that the capacity retention of Si-based LIBs using electrospun PVA matrix is higher compared to the conservative method (only dissolving in the slurry); the $25^{th}$ cycle capacity retention ratio based on the $2^{nd}$ cycle was 37% for the electrode with electrospun PVA matrix, compared to 27% and 8% for the electrodes with PVdF and PVA binders.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.277-277
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• 2010

The capacity of the carbonaceous materials reached ca. $350\;mAhg^{-1}$ which is close to theorestical value of the carbon intercalation composition $LiC_6$, resulting in a relatively low volumetric Li capacity. Notwithstanding the capacities of carbon, it will not adjust well to the need so future devices. Silicon shows the highest gravimetric capacities (up to $4000\;mAhg^{-1}$ for $Li_{21}Si_5$). Although Si is the most promising of the next generation anodes, it undergoes a large volume change during lithium insertion and extraction. It results in pulverization of the Si and loss of electrical contact between the Si and the current collector during the lithiation and delithiation. Thus, its capacity fades rapidly during cycling. We focused on electrode materials in the multiphase form which were composed of two metal compounds to reduce the volume change in material design. A combination of electrochemically amorphous active material in an inert matrix (Si-M) has been investigated for use as negative electrode materials in lithium ion batteries. The matrix composited of Si-M alloys system that; active material (Si)-inactive material (M) with Li; M is a transition metal that does not alloy with Li with Li such as Ti, V or Mo. We fabricated and tested a broad range of Si-M compositions. The electrodes were sputter-deposited on rough Cu foil. Electrochemical, structural, and compositional characterization was performed using various techniques. The structure of Si-M alloys was investigated using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface morphologies of the electrodes are observed using a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The electrochemical properties of the electrodes are studied using the cycling test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It is found that the capacity is strongly dependent on Si content and cycle retention is also changed according to M contents. It may be beneficial to find materials with high capacity, low irreversible capacity and that do not pulverize, and that combine Si-M to improve capacity retention.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.68
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• pp.161-167
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• 2018

In this study, transition metal coated carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized and applied as anode materials of Li secondary batteries. CNFs/Ni foam was immersed into 0.01 M transition metal solutions after growing CNFs on Ni foam via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Transition metal coated CNFs/Ni foam was dried in an oven at $80^{\circ}C$. Morphologies, compositions, and crystal quality of CNFs-transition metal composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Electrochemical characteristics of CNFs-transition metal composites as anodes of Li secondary batteries were investigated using a three-electrode cell. Transition metal/CNFs/Ni foam was directly employed as a working electrode without any binder. Lithium foil was used as both counter and reference electrodes while 1 M $LiClO_4$ was employed as the electrolyte after it was dissolved in a mixture of propylene carbonate:ethylene carbonate (PC:EC) at 1:1 volume ratio. Galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling and cyclic voltammetry measurements were taken at room temperature using a battery tester. In particular, the capacity of the synthesized CNFs-Fe was improved compared to that of CNFs. After 30 cycles, the capacity of CNFs-Fe was increased by 78%. Among four transition metals of Fe, Cu, Co and Ni coated on carbon nanofibers, the retention rate of CNFs-Fe was the highest at 41%. The initial capacity of CNFs-Fe with 670 mAh/g was reduced to 275 mAh/g after 30 cycles.

• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2013

In this study, we present a more electrochemically enhanced electrode using activated carbon (AC)-sulfur (S) composite materials, which have high current density. The morphological and micro-structure properties were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Quantity of sulfur was measured by thermogravimetric analysis analysis. The electrochemical behaviors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. As a trapping carbon structure, AC could provide a porous structure for containing sulfur. We were able to confirm that the AC-S composite electrode had superior electrochemical activity.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.431-442
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• 2013

This study attempted to find a proper method applicable to simulating practical equifield lines of two-dimensional Accelerate Lithium Migration Technique (ALMT), and evaluate the feasibility of using the theoretical ion migration model of one-dimensional ALMT to predict the ion migration behavior of two-dimensional ALMT. The result showed that the electrolyte or carbon plate can be used as matrix to draw equifield line graph similar to that by using mortar as matrix. Using electrolyte electrode module for simulation has advantages of simple production, easy measurement, rapidness, and economy. The electrolyte module can be used to simulate the equifield line distribution diagram in practical two-dimensional electrode configuration firstly. Then, several equifield line zones were marked, and several subzones under one-dimensional ALMT were separated from various equifield line zones. The theoretical free content distribution of alkali in concrete under two-dimensional electric field effect could be obtained from duration analysis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.657-660
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• 2009

The surface of $Li[Ni_{0.8}Co_{0.15}Al_{0.05}]O_2$ cathode particle was modified by lanthanum based oxide to improve electrochemical property and thermal stability. The XRD pattern of surface layer was indexed with that of $La_4NiLiO_8$. The discharge capacity of modified electrode was higher than that of pristine sample, specially at fast charge-discharge rate and high cut-off voltage. In the DSC profile of the charged sample, the generation of heat by exothermic reaction was decreased by surface modification. Such enhancement may by attributed to the presence of stable lanthanum based oxide, which effectively suppressd the reaction between electrode and electrolyte on the surface of $Li[Ni_{0.8}Co_{0.15}Al_{0.05}]O_2$ electrode.

• Ceramist
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.402-416
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• 2019

The development of next-generation secondary batteries, including lithium-ion batteries (LIB), requires performance enhancements such as high energy/high power density, low cost, long life, and excellent safety. The discovery of new materials with such requirements is a challenging and time-consuming process with great difficulty. To pursue this challenging endeavor, it is pivotal to understand the structure and interface of electrode materials in a multiscale level at the atomic, molecular, macro-scale during charging / discharging. In this regard, various advanced material characterization tools, including the first-principle calculation, high-resolution electron microscopy, and synchrotron-based X-ray techniques, have been actively employed to understand the charge storage- and degradation-mechanisms of various electrode materials. In this article, we introduce and review recent advances in in-situ synchrotron-based x-ray techniques to study electrode materials for LIBs during thermal degradation and charging/discharging. We show that the fundamental understanding of the structure and interface of the battery materials gained through these advanced in-situ investigations provides valuable insight into designing next-generation electrode materials with significantly improved performance in terms of high energy/high power density, low cost, long life, and excellent safety.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2010

The electrodes comprising nano-sized $LiFePO_4$, carbon black and binder are prepared with two different Al current collectors. One is the generally used normal Al foil and the other is the chemically etched Al foil. Surface characteristics of each Al foil and electrochemical performance of the cathodes using each foil are investigated. The electrode from the etched Al foil exhibits better physical and electrochemical properties as compared to those of the normal Al foil because the etched Al foil has rough surface with sub-micron pores which improve the adhesion between the electrode materials and the substrate. The electrode on the etched Al foil has such a strong peel strength that the impedance is smaller than that of normal one. Indeed the $LiFePO_4$ electrode from the etched Al foil exhibits a better rate capability and remains intact even after storage for 1 week at the charged state at the elevated temperature $60^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2018

Although the adhesion properties of composite electrodes are important for securing long-term reliability and realizing high energy density of lithium secondary batteries, related research has not been carried out extensively due to the limitation of measurement technology. However, surface and interfacial cutting analysis system(SAICAS), which can measure the adhesion properties while cutting and peeling a coating layer of $1{\sim}1000{\mu}m$ thickness, has been developed and applied for analyzing the adhesion properties of composite electrodes for lithium secondary batteries. Thus, this review presents not only the principle and measurement method of SAICAS but also comparison results between SAICAS and conventional peel test. In addition, application examples of SAICAS are introduced in the study of electrode design optimization, new binder derivation study, and binder distribution in composite electrode. This suggests that SAICAS is an analytical method that can be easily applied to investigate the adhesion properties of composite electrodes for lithium secondary batteries.