• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2019

Here, we report on nanocrystalline Si-Al-M (M = Fe, Cu, Ni, Zr) alloys for use as an anode for lithium-ion batteries, which were fabricated via a melt-spinning method. Based on the XRD and TEM analyses, it was found that the Si-Al-M alloys consist of nanocrystalline Si grains surrounded by an amorphous matrix phase. Among the Si-Al-M alloys with different metal composition, Ni-incorporated Si-Al-M alloy electrode retained the high discharge capacity of 2492 mAh/g and exhibited improved cyclability. The superior $Li^+$ storage performance of Si-Al-M alloy with Ni component is mainly responsible for the incorporated Ni, which induces the formation of ductile and conductive inactive matrix with crystalline Al phase, in addition to the grain size reduction of active Si phase.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.636-643
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• 2006

Si-C materials were synthesized by the heating the mixture of silicon and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The electrochemical properties of the Si-C materials as the high capacitive anode materials of lithium secondary batteries were evaluated by the galvanostatic charge-discharge test through 2032 type $Si-C{\mid}Li$ coin cells. Charge-discharge tests were performed at C/10 hour rate(C = 372 mAh/g). Initial discharge and charge capacities of $Si-C{\mid}Li$ cell using a Si-C material derived from PVDF(20wt.%) were found to be 1,830 and 526 mAh/g respectively. The initial discharge-charge characteristics of the developed Si-C electrode were analyzed by the electrochemical galvanostatic test adopting the capacity limited charge cut-off condition(GISOC). The range of reversible specific capacity IIE(intercalation efficiency at initial discharge-charge) and IICs(surface irreversible specific capacity) were 216 mAh/g, 68 % and 31 mAh/g, respectively.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2019

To improve the performance of Si anodes in advanced Li-ion batteries, the design of the electrode plays a critical role, especially due to the large volumetric expansion in the Si anode during Li insertion. In our study, we used a simple fabrication method to prepare Si-based electrodes by grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) to a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder (CMC-g-PAA). The procedure consists of first mixing nano-sized Si and the binders (CMC and PAA), and then coating the slurry on a Cu foil. The carbon network was formed via carbonization of the binders i.e., by a simple heat treatment of the electrode. The carbon network in the electrode is mechanically and electrically robust, which leads to higher electrical conductivity and better mechanical property. This explains its long cycle performance without the addition of a conducting agent (for example, carbon). Therefore, the partially carbonized CMC-g-PAA binder presented in this study represents a new feasible approach to produce Si anodes for use in advanced Li-ion batteries.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.193-197
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• 2014

Si-carbon composites as anode materials for lithium rechargeable batteries were prepared simply by mixing Si nanoparticles with carbon black and/or graphite through a solution process. Si nanoparticles were well dispersed and deposited on the surface of the carbon in a tetrahydrofuran solution. Si-carbon composites showed more than 700 mAh/g of initial capacity under less than 20% loading of Si nanoparticle in the composites. While the electrode with only Si nanoparticles showed fast capacity fading during continuous cycling, Si-carbon composite electrodes showed higher capacities. The cycle performances of Si nanoparticles in composites containing graphite were improved due to the role of the graphite as a matrix.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.317-322
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• 2021

Silicon (Si) has been considered as a promising anode material because of its abundant reserves in nature, low lithium ion (Li⁺) intercalation/de-intercalation potential (below 0.5 V vs. Li/Li⁺) and high theoretical capacity of 4200 mA h/g. In this paper, we prepared a silicon-based (Si-based) anode material containing a small amount of silicon carbide by using magnesiothermic coreduction of silica and hexachlorobenzene. Because of good conductivity of silicon carbide, the cycle performance of the silicon-based anode materials containing few silicon carbide is greatly improved compared with pure silicon. The raw materials were formulated according to a silicon-carbon molar ratio of 10:0, 10:1, 10:2 and 10:3, and the obtained products were purified and tested for their electrochemical properties. After 1000 cycles, the specific capacities of the materials with silicon-carbon molar ratios of 10:0, 10:1, 10:2 and 10:3 were still up to 412.3 mA h/g, 970.3 mA h/g, 875.0 mA h/g and 788.6 mA h/g, respectively. Although most of the added carbon reacted with silicon to form silicon carbide, because of the good conductivity of silicon carbide, the cycle performance of silicon-based anode materials was significantly better than that of pure silicon.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2018

To solve low cycle efficiency of the zinc anode in Zn-air batteries by corrosion, this study examined the effects of Al as a cathodic protection additive to Zn. The Al-mixed Zn anodes were produced by mixing Zn and Al powder (1, 2, and 3 wt. %). To compare the effects of the Al additive, Si was selected under the same conditions. The morphology and elemental composition of the additives in the Zn were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry. The anti-corrosion effects of the Al and Si-mixed Zn anodes were examined by linear polarization. Cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge tests were conducted to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the Al and Si-mixed Zn anodes. As a result, the Al-mixed Zn anodes showed highest corrosion resistance and cycling performance. Among these, the 2 wt.% Al-mixed Zn anodes exhibited best electrochemical performance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.798-803
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• 2018

In order to use Si as an anode material for lithium-ion battery, the particle size was controlled to less than $0.5{\mu}m$ and carbon was coated on the surface with the thickness less than 10 nm. The carbon fiber was grown on the Si surface with 50~150 wt%, and the carbon coating was carried out once again. The Si composite material was mixed with dissimilar metals to increase the conductivity, and graphite was mixed to improve cyclic life characteristics. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of composite materials were measured with XRD, SEM, TEM and coin cell. The discharge capacity of Si/PC/CNF/PC was lower than that of Si/PC (Pyrolytic Carbon)/CNF (Carbon Nano Fiber). However, the cyclic life of Si/PC/CNF/PC was higher. Initial discharge capacity of 1512 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C rate and initial efficiency of 78% were shown. It also showed a capacity retention of 94% in 10 cycles.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.459-464
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• 2016

In this study, the electrochemical characteristics of porous silicon/carbon composite anode were investigated to improve the cycle stability and rate performance in lithium ion batteries. In this study, the effect of TEOS and $NH_3$ concentration, mixing speed and temperature on particle size of nano silica was investigated using $St{\ddot{o}}ber$ method. Nano porous Si/C composites were prepared by the fabrication processes including the synthesis of nano $SiO_2$, magnesiothermic reduction of nano $SiO_2$ to obtain nano porous Si by HCl etching, and carbonization of phenolic resin. Also the electrochemical performances of nano porous Si/C composites as the anode were performed by constant current charge/discharge test, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests in the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ dissolved inorganic solvents (EC:DMC:EMC=1:1:1vol%). It is found that the coin cell using nano porous Si/C composite has the capacity of 2,006 mAh/g and the capacity retention ratio was 55.4% after 40 cycle.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.145-148
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• 2011

The thermal behavior of lithiated Si anodes has been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In particular, the effect of Si particle size on the thermal stability of a fully lithiated Si electrode was investigated. For DSC measurements, a lithiated Si anode was heated in a hermetically sealed high-pressure pan with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder and a 1 M $LiPF_6$ solution in an ethylene carbonate (EC)-diethyl carbonate (DEC) mixture. The thermal evolution around $140^{\circ}C$ increases with lithiation and with decreasing particle size; this phenomenon is attributed to the thermal decomposition of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film. Exothermic peaks, following a broad peak at around $140^{\circ}C$, shift to a lower temperature with a decrease in particle size, indicating that the thermal stability of the lithiated Si electrode strongly depends on the Si particle size.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.168-172
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• 2013

This work presents the effects of binders on the electrochemical performance of Si-C composites as the anode of lithium ion batteries. PAI (polyamide-imide) was used as an organic binder, and PAN (polyacrylonitrile), PAA (polyacrylic acid) and CMC + SBR (carboxymethyl cellulose + styrene-butadiene rubber) were used as aqueous binders. As a result, stabilization time for the cell with a Si-C composite anode synthesized using aqueous binders became shorter than an organic binder. Particularly in the case of the cell using PAA binder, better performance was observed in terms of adhesion strength, initial efficiency, the volume expansion ratio, Coulombic efficiency, and capacity retention.