Hard carbon nanoparticles as high-capacity, high-stability anodic materials for Na-ion batteries

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Nano Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.10.034· OSTI ID:1236915

Xiao, Lifen; Cao, Yuliang; Henderson, Wesley A.; Sushko, Maria L.; Shao, Yuyan; Xiao, Jie; Wang, Wei; Engelhard, Mark H.; Nie, Zimin; Liu, Jun

Hard carbon nanoparticles (HCNP) were synthesized by the pyrolysis of a polyaniline precursor. The measured Na+ cation diffusion coefficient (10^-13-10^-15cm²s^-1) in the HCNP obtained at 1150 °C is two orders of magnitude lower than that of Li+ in graphite (10^-10-13^-15cm²s^-1), indicating that reducing the carbon particle size is very important for improving electrochemical performance. These measurements also enable a clear visualization of the stepwise reaction phases and rate changes which occur throughout the insertion/extraction processes in HCNP, The electrochemical measurements also show that the nano-sized HCNP obtained at 1150 °C exhibited higher practical capacity at voltages lower than 1.2 V (vs. Na/Na⁺), as well as a prolonged cycling stability, which is attributed to an optimum spacing of 0.366 nm between the graphitic layers and the nano particular size resulting in a low-barrier Na+ cation insertion. These results suggest that HCNP is a very promising high-capacity/stability anode for low cost sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1236915
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-115004; KC0203020
• Journal Information: Nano Energy, Vol. 19; ISSN 2211-2855
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English