Lepidocrocite Titanate–Graphene Composites for Sodium-Ion Batteries
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Molecular Foundry
- Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States). Institute for Electrochemically Stored Energy; Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
To overcome electronic transport issues of layered titanates in sodium-ion batteries, we have designed and synthesized composites of lepidocrocite titanates with reduced graphene oxide through a solution-based self-assembly approach. The parent lepidocrocite titanate (K0.8[Ti1.73Li0.27]O4) was exfoliated by a soft-chemical approach and mechanical shaking. Exfoliated layered titania sheets (LTO) were then combined with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layers to assemble into composites through flocculation. Countercations (i.e., Mg2+) were used for the self-assembly of negatively charged titania and rGO nanosheets via flocculation. The carbon content in the composites was tuned from 1 to 17% by changing the ratio of titania and rGO sheets in the mixed colloidal suspensions. Electrodes were processed with as-prepared LTO-rGO composites without any carbon additives and tested in sodium half-cell configurations. Mg+-coagulated LTO-rGO composite electrodes deliver higher capacities than electrodes prepared with coagulated titania sheets and 10% acetylene black in sodium half-cells and display good capacity retention after 50 cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results indicate lower charge transfer resistance for LTO-14.5%rGO composites than that of coagulated titania sheets with 10% acetylene black. A power law analysis of cells containing the composites indicate a hybrid mechanism consisting of both surface and diffusional processes. A comparison with a similar system, that of dopamine-derived LTO-C heterostructures, reveal significant differences. While capacities showed a strong dependence on carbon content for the dopamine-derived materials, this was not true for the LTO-rGO composites. Instead, the highest capacity was obtained for the 14.5% rGO sample, with a lower value obtained for the 17% rGO sample. A greater proportion of the redox processes were surface rather than diffusional in nature for the LTO-rGO composites as well.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231; SC0012673; AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 1992079
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Vol. 126, Issue 45; ISSN 1932-7447
- Publisher:
- American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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