• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.269-278
• /
• 2022

Utilization of high-voltage electrolyte additive(s) at a small fraction is a cost-effective strategy for a good solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and performance improvement of a lithium-rich layered oxide-based high-energy lithium-ion cell by avoiding the occurrence of metal-dissolution that is one of the failure modes. To mitigate metal-dissolution, we explored fluorinated dual-additives of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and di(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)carbonate (DFDEC) for building-up of a good SEI in a 4.7 V full-cell that consists of high-capacity silicon-graphite composite (15 wt% Si/C/CF/C-graphite) anode and Li_1.13Mn_0.463Ni_0.203Co_0.203O₂ (LMNC) cathode. The full-cell including optimum fractions of dual-additives shows increased capacity to 228 mAhg^-1 at 0.2C and improved performance from the one in the base electrolyte. Surface analysis results find that the SEI stabilization of LMNC cathode induced by dual-additives leads to a suppression of soluble Mn²⁺-O formation at cathode surface, mitigating metal-dissolution event and crack formation as well as structural degradation. The SEI and structure of Si/C/CF/C-graphite anode is also stabilized by the effects of dual-additives, contributing to performance improvement. The data give insight into a basic understanding of cathode-electrolyte and anode-electrolyte interfacial processes and cathode-anode interaction that are critical factors affecting full-cell performance.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.308-315
• /
• 2016

$SiO_x/ZnO$ composites were prepared from sol-gel method for excellent cycle life characteristics. The composites were coated by PVC as a carbon precursor. ZnO removal to create a void space therein was able to buffer the volume change during charge and discharge. To determine the crystal structure and the shape of the synthesized composite, XRD, SEM, TEM analysis was performed. The carbon contents in the composites were confirmed by TGA. The pore structure and pore size distribution of the composite was measured with the BET specific surface area analysis and BJH pore size distribution. Enhanced electric conductivity by carbon addition was determined from powder resistance measurement. Electrochemical properties were measured with the AC impedance and the charge and discharge cycle life characteristics. When carbon was coated on the $SiO_x/ZnO$ sample, the electrical conductivity and the discharge capacity were increased. After removal of ZnO with HCl the surface area of the sample was increased, but the discharge capacity was decreased. $SiO_x/ZnO$ sample without acarbon coating showed very low discharge capacity, and after carbon coating the sample showed high discharge capacity. For cycle life characteristics, $C-SiO_x/ZnO$ composite (Zn : Si : C = 1 : 1 : 8) with a capacity of $815mAh\;g^{-1}$ at 50 cycle and 0.2 C has higher capacity than existing graphite-based anode materials.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.483-491
• /
• 2018

Effects of additives on phase development and physico-mechanical properties of mullite-carbon was investigated. Powdered clay, kaolinite and graphite of predetermined compositions were blended with additives using ball mill for 3 hrs at 60 rev/min. Samples were produced by uniaxial compression and sintered between $1400^{\circ}C$ and $1600^{\circ}C$ for one hr. They were characterized for various properties, developed phases and microstructural features. It was observed that the properties and phase developments in the samples were influenced by the additives. 10 wt % SiC served as nucleating point for SiC around $1400^{\circ}C$. 10wt % $TiO_2$ lead to development of 2.5 wt % TiC at $1500^{\circ}C$ which increased to 6.8 wt % at $1600^{\circ}C$. Ifon clay in the sample leads to development of anorthite and microcline in the samples. 10wt % $TiO_2$ is effective as anti-oxidant for graphite up to $1500^{\circ}C$. Base on strength and absorbed energy, sample C (with 10wt % $TiO_2$) sintered at $1500^{\circ}C$ is considered to be optimum.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2021

The conversion of carbon preforms to dense SiC by liquid infiltration is a prospectively low-cost and reliable method of forming SiC-Si composites with complex shapes and high densities. Si powder was coated on top of a 2.0wt.% Y2O3-added carbon preform, and reaction bonded silicon carbide (RBSC) was prepared by infiltrating molten Si at 1,450℃ for 1-8 h. Reactive sintering of the Y2O3-free carbon preform caused Si to be pushed to one side, thereby forming cracking defects. However, when prepared from the Y2O3-added carbon preform, a SiC-Si composite in which Si is homogeneously distributed in the SiC matrix without cracking can be produced. Using the Si + C → SiC reaction at 1,450℃, 3C and 6H SiC phases, crystalline Si, and Y2O3 were generated based on XRD analysis, without the appearance of graphite. The RBSC prepared from the Y2O3-added carbon preform was densified by increasing the density and decreasing the porosity as the holding time increased at 1,450℃. Dense RBSC, which was reaction sintered at 1,450℃ for 4 h from the 2.0wt.% Y2O3-added carbon preform, had an apparent porosity of 0.11% and a relative density of 96.8%.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.301-311
• /
• 2021

The conversion of all carbon preforms to dense SiC by liquid infiltration can become a low-cost and reliable method to form SiC-Si composites of complex shape and high density. Reactive sintered silicon carbide (RBSC) is prepared by covering Si powder on top of 0.5-5.0 wt% Y₂O₃-added carbon preforms at 1,450 and 1,500℃ for 2 hours; samples are analyzed to determine densification. Reactive sintering from the Y₂O₃-free carbon preform causes Si to be pushed to one side and cracking defects occur. However, when prepared from the Y₂O₃-added carbon preform, an SiC-Si composite in which Si is homogeneously distributed in the SiC matrix without cracking can be produced. Using the Si + C = SiC reaction, 3C and 6H of SiC, crystalline Si, and Y₂O₃ phases are detected by XRD analysis without the appearance of graphite. As the content of Y₂O₃ in the carbon preform increases, the prepared RBSC accelerates the SiC conversion reaction, increasing the density and decreasing the pores, resulting in densification. The dense RBSC obtained by reaction sintering at 1,500 ℃ for 2 hours from a carbon preform with 2.0 wt% Y₂O₃ added has 0.20 % apparent porosity and 96.9 % relative density.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2014

Silicon-carbon composite was prepared by the magnesiothermic reduction of mesoporous silica and subsequent impregnation with a carbon precursor. This was applied for use as an anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Well-ordered mesoporous silica(SBA-15) was employed as a starting material for the mesoporous silicon, and sucrose was used as a carbon source. It was found that complete removal of by-products ($Mg_2Si$ and $Mg_2SiO_4$) formed by side reactions of silica and magnesium during the magnesiothermic reduction, was a crucial factor for successful formation of mesoporous silicon. Successful formation of the silicon-carbon composite was well confirmed by appropriate characterization tools (e.g., $N_2$ adsorption-desorption, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analyses). A lithium-ion battery was fabricated using the prepared silicon-carbon composite as the anode, and lithium foil as the counter-electrode. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the silicon-carbon composite showed better cycling stability than graphite, when used as the anode in the lithium-ion battery. This improvement could be due to the fact that carbon efficiently suppressed the change in volume of the silicon material caused by the charge-discharge cycle. This indicates that silicon-carbon composite, prepared via the magnesiothermic reduction and impregnation methods, could be an efficient anode material for lithium ion batteries.