• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are the state-of-the-art technology among electrochemical energy storage and conversion cells, and are still considered the most attractive class of battery in the future due to their high specific energy density, high efficiency, and long cycle life. Rapid development of power-hungry commercial electronics and large-scale energy storage applications (e.g. off-peak electrical energy storage), however, requires novel anode materials that have higher energy densities to replace conventional graphite electrodes. Germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) are thought to be ideal prospect candidates for next generation LIB anodes due to their extremely high theoretical energy capacities. For instance, Ge offers relatively lower volume change during cycling, better Li insertion/extraction kinetics, and higher electronic conductivity than Si. In this focused review, we briefly describe the basic concepts of LIBs and then look at the characteristics of ideal anode materials that can provide greatly improved electrochemical performance, including high capacity, better cycling behavior, and rate capability. We then discuss how, in the future, Ge anode materials (Ge and Ge oxides, Ge-carbon composites, and other Ge-based composites) could increase the capacity of today's Li batteries. In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to fulfill the requirements of excellent anode materials, especially using these materials at the nanoscale. This article shall serve as a handy reference, as well as starting point, for future research related to high capacity LIB anodes, especially based on semiconductor Ge and Si.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.376-380
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• 2016

A composite electrode made of iron oxide nanoparticles/multi-wall carbon nanotube (iNPs/M) delivers high specific capacity and cycle durability. At a rate of $200mAg^{-1}$, the electrode shows a high discharge capacity of ${\sim}664mAhg^{-1}$ after 100 cycles, which is ~ 70% of the theoretical capacity of $Fe_3O_4$. Carbon black, carbon nanotube, and graphene as anode materials have been explored to improve the electrical conductivity and cycle stability in Li ion batteries. Herein, iron oxide nanoparticles on acid treated MWCNTs as a conductive platform are combined to enhance the drawbacks of $Fe_3O_4$ such as low electrical conductivity and volume expansion during the alloying/dealloying process. Enhanced performance was achieved due to a synergistic effect between electrically 3D networks of conductive MWCNTs and the high Li ion storage ability of $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles (iNPs).

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.324-330
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• 2006

In this study, carbothermal reduction method was employed to synthesis Sn-Sb alloy powders from chief metal oxides with ultrafine sizes. The Sn-Sb powders consisting of ultrafine particles were formed at $800{\sim}900^{\circ}C$ by reduction of oxides. Those powders have high initial discharge capacities ($570{\sim}637\;mAh/g$) and discharge capacities of those powders maintain initial capacity after 20 cycle due to existence of ultrafine particles in powders and alloying effect of Sn-Sb.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2019

A macroporous Sn thick film as a high capacity negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery was prepared by using a chemical etching method using nitric acid for a Sn film having a thickness of $52{\mu}m$. The porous Sn thick film greatly reduced the over-voltage for the alloying reaction with lithium by the increased reaction area. At the same time. The porous structure of active Sn film plays a part in the buffer and reduces the damage by the volume change during cycles. Since the porous Sn thick film electrode does not require the use of the binder and the conductive carbon black, it has substantially larger energy density. As the concentration of nitric acid in etching solution increased, the degree of the etching increased. The etching of the Sn film effectively proceeded with nitric acid of 3 M concentration or more. The porous Sn film could not be recovered because the most of Sn was eluted within 60 seconds by the rapid etching rate in the 5 M nitric acid. In the case of etching with 4 M nitric acid for 60 seconds, the appropriate porous Sn film was formed with 48.9% of weight loss and 40.3% of thickness change during chemical acid etching process. As the degree of etching of Sn film increased, the electrochemical activity and the reversible capacity for the lithium storage of the Sn film electrode were increased. The highest reversible specific capacity of 650 mAh/g was achieved at the etching condition with 4 M nitric acid. The porous Sn film electrode showed better cycle performance than the conventional electrode using a Sn powder.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.284-288
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• 2008

Sn-thin film as high capacitive anode for thin film lithium-ion battery was prepared by organic-electrolyte electroplating using Sn(II) acetate. Electrolytic solution including $Li^+$ and $Sn^{2+}$ had 3 reduction peaks at cyclic voltammogram. Current peak at $2.0{\sim}2.5\;V$ region correspond to the electroplating of Sn on Ni substrate. This potential value is lower than 2.91 V vs. $Li^+/Li^{\circ}$, of the standard reduction potential of $Sn^{2+}$ under aqueous media. It is the result of high overpotential caused by high resistive organic electrolytic solution and low $Sn^{2+}$ concentration. Physical and electrochemical properties were evaluated using by XRD, FE-SEM, cyclic voltammogram and galvanostatic charge-discharge test. Crystallinity of electroplated Sn-anode on a Ni substrate could be increased through heat treatment at $150^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Cyclic voltammogram shows reversible electrochemical reaction of reduction(alloying) and oxidation(de-alloying) at 0.25 V and 0.75 V, respectively. Thickness of Sn-thin film, which was calculated based on electrochemical capacity, was $7.35{\mu}m$. And reversible capacity of this cell was $400{\mu}Ah/cm^2$.