3D‐Integrated, Multi‐Functional Carbon Fibers for Stable, High‐Areal‐Capacity Batteries

Journal Article · Fri Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202301295· OSTI ID:1996055

Liang, Zhiming  ^[1]; Wang, Yangyang ^[1]; Pei, Ben ^[2]; Son, Seoung‐Bum ^[3]; Nguyen, Martin ^[1]; Singstock, Nicholas R.  ^[1]; Huang, Shaofeng ^[4]; Mo, Michael ^[5]; Li, Jianlin ^[6]; Whittingham, M. Stanley  ^[2]; Ban, Chunmei  ^[7]

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1. Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering College of Engineering and Applied Science University of Colorado Boulder Boulder CO 80309 USA
2. Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902 USA
3. Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Lemont IL 60439 USA
4. Department of Chemistry College of Arts and Sciences University of Colorado Boulder Boulder CO 80309 USA
5. KULR Technology Group, Inc San Diego CA 92111 USA
6. Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN 37831 USA
7. Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering College of Engineering and Applied Science University of Colorado Boulder Boulder CO 80309 USA, Materials Science and Engineering Program College of Engineering and Applied Science University of Colorado Boulder Boulder CO 80309 USA

Abstract Increasing lithium‐ion batteries' (LIBs) electrode areal capacity can boost energy density and lower manufacturing costs, but faces challenges in manufacturing, rate performance, and cycling stability. A conductive framework made of commercial micro‐sized carbon fibers (Cfs) is presented that serves as a host for both the LiNi _0.5 Mn _0.3 Co _0.2 O ₂ (NMC 532) cathode and Cfs anode. The Cf framework has multiple functions that offer high electronic conductivity (270 mS cm ⁻¹ ), low tortuosity (1.7), low Li ⁺ diffusion resistance (22 Ω), and high thermal conductivity (200 W mK ⁻¹ ). Additionally, the Cf‐integrated electrodes can have an extremely high mass loading of NMC 532 (70 mg cm ⁻² ) with a theoretical capacity of 14 mAh cm ⁻² . Thus, the practical full cells assembled with the Cfs‐enabled electrodes exhibit an initial areal capacity of 4.1 mAh cm ⁻² and capacity retention of 90.4% at 500 cycles at a cycling rate of C/3, 1.5 mA cm ⁻² . Data collected from the operando isothermal microcalorimetry suggest that full cells utilizing the Cf anode experience less heat release from side reactions compared to cells utilizing a conventional graphite anode. This present approach is scalable and cost‐effective and can fabricate practical LIBs that boast high areal capacity, rate performance, and a lengthy cycling lifetime.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: DEEE0007765; DE‐AC05‐00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1996055
• Journal Information: Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Vol. 13 Journal Issue: 37; ISSN 1614-6832
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English