Improving Lithium Metal Composite Anodes with Seeding and Pillaring Effects of Silicon Nanoparticles

Journal Article · Tue Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · ACS Nano

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c00184· OSTI ID:1634907

Wang, Hansen ^[1]; Cao, Xia ^[2]; Gu, Hanke ^[3]; Liu, Yayuan ^[1]; Li, Yanbin ^[3]; Zhang, Zewen ^[3]; Huang, William ^[3]; Wang, Hongxia ^[3]; Wang, Jiangyan ^[3]; Xu, Wu  ^[2]; Zhang, Jiguang  ^[2]; Cui, Yi ^[3]

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1. STANFORD UNIVERSITY
2. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
3. Stanford University

Metallic lithium (Li) anodes are crucial for the development of high specific energy batteries yet plagued by their poor cycling efficiency. Electrode architecture engineering is vital for maintaining a stable anode volume and suppress Li corrosion during cycling. In this paper, a reduced graphene oxide “host” framework for Li metal anodes is further optimized by embedding silicon (Si) nanoparticles between the graphene layers. They serve as Li nucleation seeds to promote Li deposition within the framework even without pre-stored Li. Meanwhile, the LixSi alloy particles serve as supporting “pillars” between the graphene layers, enabling a minimized thickness shrinkage after full stripping of metallic Li. Combined with a Li compatible electrolyte, 99.4% Coulombic efficiency over ~600 cycles is achieved, and stable cycling of a Li||NMC532 full cell for ~380 cycles with negligible capacity decay is realized.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1634907
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-150465
• Journal Information: ACS Nano, Vol. 14, Issue 4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English