Nanostructured Silicon–Carbon 3D Electrode Architectures for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Journal Article · Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · ACS Omega

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b00924· OSTI ID:1468122

Kumar, Sarode Krishna ^[1]; Ghosh, Sourav ^[1]; Malladi, Sairam K. ^[2]; Nanda, Jagjit  ^[3]; Martha, Surendra K.  ^[1]

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1. Indian Inst. of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy (India). Dept. of Chemistry
2. Indian Inst. of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy (India). Dept. of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division

Silicon is an attractive anode material for lithium-ion batteries. However, silicon anodes have the issue of volume change, which causes pulverization and subsequently rapid capacity fade. Herein, we report organic binder and conducting diluent-free silicon–carbon 3D electrodes as anodes for lithium-ion batteries, where we replace the conventional copper (Cu) foil current collector with highly conductive carbon fibers (CFs) of 5–10 μm in diameter. We demonstrate here the petroleum pitch (P-pitch) which adequately coat between the CFs and Si-nanoparticles (NPs) between 700 and 1000 °C under argon atmosphere and forms uniform continuous layer of 6–14 nm thick coating along the exterior surfaces of Si-NPs and 3D CFs. The electrodes fabricate at 1000 °C deliver capacities in excess of 2000 mA h g^–1 at C/10 and about 1000 mA h g^–1 at 5 C rate for 250 cycles in half-cell configuration. Synergistic effect of carbon coating and 3D CF electrode architecture at 1000 °C improve the efficiency of the Si–C composite during long cycling. Full cells using Si–carbon composite electrode and Li_1.2Ni_0.15Mn_0.55Co_0.1O₂-based cathode show high open-circuit voltage of >4 V and energy density of >500 W h kg^–1. Replacement of organic binder and copper current collector by high-temperature binder P-pitch and CFs further enhances energy density per unit area of the electrode. It is believed that the study will open a new realm of possibility for the development of Li-ion cell having almost double the energy density of currently available Li-ion batteries that is suitable for electric vehicles.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Indian Inst. of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy (India)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V); Dept. of Science and Technology (DST) Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) (India)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725; AC02-05CH11231; SB/FT/CS-147/2014
• OSTI ID: 1468122
• Journal Information: ACS Omega, Vol. 3, Issue 8; ISSN 2470-1343
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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