• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.257-264
• /
• 2023

To develop a high capacity lithium secondary battery, a new approach to anode material synthesis is required, capable of producing an anode that exceeds the energy density limit of a carbon-based anode. This research synthesized carbon nano silicon composites as an anode material for a secondary battery using the RF thermal plasma method, which is an ecofriendly dry synthesis method. Prior to material synthesis, a silicon raw material was mixed at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt% based on the carbon raw material in a powder form, and the temperature change inside the reaction field depending on the applied plasma power was calculated. Information about the materials in the synthesized carbon nano silicon composites were confirmed through XRD analysis, showing carbon (86.7~52.6 %), silicon (7.2~36.2 %), and silicon carbide (6.1~11.2 %). Through FE-SEM analysis, it was confirmed that the silicon bonded to carbon was distributed at sizes of 100 nm or less. The bonding shape of the silicon nano particles bonded to carbon was observed through TEM analysis. The initial electrochemical charging/discharging test for the 40 wt% silicon mixture showed excellent electrical characteristics of 1,517 mAh/g (91.9 %) and an irreversible capacity of 133 mAh/g (8.1 %).

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.299-309
• /
• 2016

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.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.116-122
• /
• 2012

As an effort to address the chronic capacity fading of Si anodes and thus achieve their robust cycling performance, herein, we develop a unique electrode in which silicon nanoparticles are embedded in the carbon nanotubes network. Utilizing robust contacts between silicon nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, the composite electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance : 95.5% capacity retention after 140 cycles as well as rate capability such that at the C-rate increase from 0.1C to 1C to 10C, the specific capacities of 850, 698, and 312 mAh/g are obtained, respectively. The present investigation suggests a useful design principle for silicon as well as other high capacity alloying electrodes that undergo large volume expansions during battery operations.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.335-339
• /
• 2007

Carbon/silicon composites were synthesized by mixing silicon powders with petroleum pitch and subsequent heat-treatment. The resultant composites were composed of carbon and nano-size crystalline silicon identified by XRD and EDX. FIB images and SEM images were taken respectively to detect the existence of silicon impregnated in carbon and the distribution of silicon on the carbon surface. The obtained carbon/silicon materials were assembled as half cell anodes for lithium ion secondary battery and their electrochemical properties were tested. The pitch/silicon composite (3 : 1 wt. ratio) heat treated at $1000^{\circ}C$ and mixed with 55.5 wt.% of graphite showed relatively good electrochemical properties such as the initial efficiency of 78%, the initial discharge capacity of 605 mAh/g, and the discharge capacity of 500 mAh/g after 20 cycles.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.248-253
• /
• 2017

In this study, we investigate the effect of the diffusion barrier and substrate temperature on the length of carbon nanotubes. For synthesizing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, thermal chemical vapor deposition is used and a substrate with a catalytic layer and a buffer layer is prepared using an e-beam evaporator. The length of the carbon nanotubes synthesized on the catalytic layer/diffusion barrier on the silicon substrate is longer than that without a diffusion barrier because the diffusion barrier prevents generation of silicon carbide from the diffusion of carbon atoms into the silicon substrate. The deposition temperature of the catalyst and alumina are varied from room temperature to $150^{\circ}C$, $200^{\circ}C$, and $250^{\circ}C$. On increasing the substrate temperature on depositing the buffer layer on the silicon substrate, shorter carbon nanotubes are obtained owing to the increased bonding force between the buffer layer and silicon substrate. The reason why different lengths of carbon nanotubes are obtained is that the higher bonding force between the buffer layer and the substrate layer prevents uniformity of catalytic islands for synthesizing carbon nanotubes.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.193-197
• /
• 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 Powder Materials
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2015

The composite of porous silicon (Si) and amorphous carbon (C) is prepared by pyrolysis of a nano-porous Si + pitch mixture. The nano-porous Si is prepared by mechanical milling of magnesium powder with silicon monoxide (SiO) followed by removal of MgO with hydrochloric acid (etching process). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of porous Si ($64.52m^2g^{-1}$) is much higher than that before etching Si/MgO ($4.28m^2g^{-1}$) which indicates pores are formed in Si after the etching process. Cycling stability is examined for the nano-porous Si + C composite and the result is compared with the composite of nonporous Si + C. The capacity retention of the former composite is 59.6% after 50 charge/discharge cycles while the latter shows only 28.0%. The pores of Si formed after the etching process is believed to accommodate large volumetric change of Si during charging and discharging process.

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

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.46-49
• /
• 2005

Recently, many research results have been reported about nano-tip using carbon nanotube because of its better sensing ability compared to a conventional silicon tip. However, it is very difficult to identify the carbon nanotube having proper length for nano-tip and to attach it on a conventional tip. In this paper, a new method is proposed to make a nano-tip and to control its length. The electrochemical etching method was used to control the length by cutting the carbon nanotube of arbitrary length and it was possible to monitor the process through current measurement. The etched volume of carbon nanotube was determined by the amount of applied charge. The carbon nanotube was successfully cut and could be used in the nanogripper.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.280-287
• /
• 2000

Adsorption behavior and amount of phenolic resin followed silica (SiO2) formation onto silicon nitride(Si3N4) surface were investigated using electrokinetic sonic amplitude (ESA) technique and with UV spectrometer, to fabricate Si3N4/SiC nano-composite based on reaction between SiO2 formed and phenolic resin absorbed onto Si3N4 particle. The amount of SiO2 formed and carbon from phenolic resin absorbed onto Si3N4 surface were calculated quantitatively to adjust the reaction between SiO2 and phenolic resin, resulting in no residual SiO2 and carbon. As a result, pre-heated tempeature for optimized reaction was below 25$0^{\circ}C$, in which there was no residual SiO2 and carbon.