Recent Advances and Perspectives of Carbon-Based Nanostructures as Anode Materials for Li-ion Batteries

Vacuum Evaporation Plating Enabling ≤ 10 µm Ultrathin Lithium Foils for Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium (Li) metal is widely recognized as a viable candidate for anode material in future battery technologies due to its exceptional energy density. Nevertheless, the commercial Li foils in common use are too thick (≈100 µm), resulting in a waste of Li resources. Herein, by applying the vacuum evaporation plating technology, the ultra-thin Li foils (VELi) with high purity, strong adhesion, and thickness of less than 10 µm are successfully prepared. The manipulation of evaporation temperature allows for convenient regulation of the thickness of the fabricated Li film. This physical thinning method allows for fast, continuous, and highly accurate mass production. With a current density of 0.5 mA cm-2 for a plating amount of 0.5 mAh cm-2, VELi||VELi cells can stably cycle for 200 h. The maximum utilization of Li is already more than 25%. Furthermore, LiFePO4||VELi full cells present excellent cycling performance at 1 C (1 C = 155 mAh g-1) with a capacity retention rate of 90.56% after 240 cycles. VELi increases the utilization of active Li and significantly reduces the cost of Li usage while ensuring anode cycling and multiplication performance. Vacuum evaporation plating technology provides a feasible strategy for the practical application of ultra-thin Li anodes.

Using algae in Li-ion batteries: A sustainable pathway toward greener energy storage

This paper reviews and analyzes the innovations and advances in using algae and their derivatives in different parts of Li-ion batteries. Applications in Li-ion battery anodes, electrolytes, binders, and separators were discussed. Algae provides a sustainable feedstock for different materials that can be used in Li-ion batteries, such as carbonaceous material, biosilica, biopolymers, and other materials that have unique micro- and nano-structures that act as biotemplates for composites structure design. Natural materials and biotemplates provided by algae have various advantages, such as electrochemical and thermal stability, porosity that allows higher storage capacity, nontoxicity, and other properties discussed in the paper. Results reveal that despite algae and its derivatives being a promising renewable feedstock for different applications in Li-ion batteries, more research is yet to be performed to evaluate its feasibility of being used in the industry.

Electronic Modulation and Structural Engineering of Carbon-Based Anodes for Low-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Review

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become the preferred battery system for portable electronic devices and transportation equipment due to their high specific energy, good cycling performance, low self-discharge, and absence of memory effect. However, excessively low ambient temperatures will seriously affect the performance of LIBs, which are almost incapable of discharging at -40~-60 °C. There are many factors affecting the low-temperature performance of LIBs, and one of the most important is the electrode material. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop electrode materials or modify existing materials in order to obtain excellent low-temperature LIB performance. A carbon-based anode is one candidate for use in LIBs. In recent years, it has been found that the diffusion coefficient of lithium ion in graphite anodes decreases more obviously at low temperatures, which is an important factor limiting its low-temperature performance. However, the structure of amorphous carbon materials is complex; they have good ionic diffusion properties, and their grain size, specific surface area, layer spacing, structural defects, surface functional groups, and doping elements may have a greater impact on their low-temperature performance. In this work, the low-temperature performance of LIBs was achieved by modifying the carbon-based material from the perspectives of electronic modulation and structural engineering.

Antimony Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Self-Supported Organic Carbon with a Polymer Network for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries Anode

Antimony (Sb) demonstrates ascendant reactive activation with lithium ions thanks to its distinctive puckered layer structure. Compared with graphite, Sb can reach a considerable theoretical specific capacity of 660 mAh g^-1 by constituting Li₃Sb safer reaction potential. Hereupon, with a self-supported organic carbon as a three-dimensional polymer network structure, Sb/carbon (3DPNS-Sb/C) composites were produced through a hydrothermal reaction channel followed by a heat disposal operation. The unique structure shows uniformitarian Sb nanoparticles wrapped in a self-supported organic carbon, alleviating the volume extension of innermost Sb alloying, and conducive to the integrality of the construction. When used as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), 3DPNS-Sb/C exhibits a high invertible specific capacity of 511.5 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g^-1 after 100 cycles and a remarkable rate property of 289.5 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 10 A g^-1. As anodes, LIBs demonstrate exceptional electrochemical performance.

Toward Practical High-Energy and High-Power Lithium Battery Anodes: Present and Future

Lithium batteries are key components of portable devices and electric vehicles due to their high energy density and long cycle life. To meet the increasing requirements of electric devices, however, energy density of Li batteries needs to be further improved. Anode materials, as a key component of the Li batteries, have a remarkable effect on the increase of the overall energy density. At present, various anode materials including Li anodes, high-capacity alloy-type anode materials, phosphorus-based anodes, and silicon anodes have shown great potential for Li batteries. Composite-structure anode materials will be further developed to cater to the growing demands for electrochemical storage devices with high-energy-density and high-power-density. In this review, the latest progress in the development of high-energy Li batteries focusing on high-energy-capacity anode materials has been summarized in detail. In addition, the challenges for the rational design of current Li battery anodes and the future trends are also presented.

Resource Availability and Implications for the Development of Plug-In Electric Vehicles

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have immense potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, and for smart grid applications. Although a great deal of research is focused on technological limitations that affect PEV battery performance targets, a major and arguably equal concern is the constraint imposed by the finite availability of elements or resources used in the manufacture of PEV batteries. Availability of resources, such as lithium, for batteries is critical to the future of PEVs and is, therefore, a topic that needs attention. This study addresses the issues related to lithium availability and sustainability, particularly supply and demand related to PEVs and the impact on future PEV growth. In this paper, a detailed review of the research on lithium availability for PEV batteries is presented, key challenges are pinpointed and future impacts on PEV technology are outlined.

Peapod-like architectures with CuO microspheres encapsulated within MXene as a conversion electrode for lithium-ion batteries

Conversion electrode materials allow lithium-ion batteries to achieve high reversible capacities but have the problem of sluggish kinetics derived from their insulating decomposition products, thus hindering their future application. Nanostructures that shorten diffusion distances do not solve the problem as the conversion reaction is always associated with the collapse of the original structure. Here, we demonstrate that MXene would be a good conductive additive for conversion electrode materials and utilize an electrode of CuO incorporated into a MXene scaffold as a model case which demonstrates highly improved cyclability with a capacity of 670 mA h g^-1 at 5C after 1000 cycles.

Facile synthesis of ZnNC derived from a ZIF-8 metal-organic framework by the microwave-assisted solvothermal technique as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

A zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) electrode is a good candidate as an anode material.

The Effects of the Binder and Buffering Matrix on InSb-Based Anodes for High-Performance Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries

C-decorated intermetallic InSb (InSb-C) was developed as a novel high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). InSb nanoparticles synthesized via a mechanochemical reaction were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The effects of the binder and buffering matrix on the active InSb were investigated. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was found to significantly improve the cycling stability owing to its strong hydrogen bonding. The addition of amorphous C to InSb further enhanced mechanical stability and electronic conductivity. As a result, InSb-C demonstrated good electrochemical Li-ion storage performance: a high reversible specific capacity (878 mAh·g-1 at 100 mA·g-1 after 140 cycles) and good rate capability (capacity retention of 98% at 10 A·g-1 as compared to 0.1 A·g-1). The effects of PAA and C were comprehensively studied using cyclic voltammetry, differential capacity plots, ex-situ SEM, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In addition, the electrochemical reaction mechanism of InSb was revealed using ex-situ XRD. InSb-C exhibited a better performance than many recently reported Sb-based electrodes; thus, it can be considered as a potential anode material in LIBs.

Advanced Battery Materials Research at Nazarbayev University: Review

With the rapid development of new and advanced technologies, the request for energy storage device with better electrochemical characteristics is increasing as well. Therefore, the search and development for more novel and efficient energy storage components are imperative. In Kazakhstan there are several groups that were established to conduct research in the field of energy storage devices. One of them is professor Mansurov’s research group with we have a long time fruitful collaboration. Group at Nazarbayev University do research in design and investigation of advanced energy storage materials for high performance energy storage devices, including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and aqueous rechargeable batteries, employing strategies as nanostructuring, nano/micro combination, hybridization, pore-structure control, configuration design, 3D printing, surface modification, and composition optimization. This manuscript reviews research on advanced battery materials, provided by Nazarbayev University scientists since the last 10 years.

Biomass Porous Carbons Derived from Banana Peel Waste as Sustainable Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Disordered carbons derived from banana peel waste (BPW) were successfully obtained by employing a simple one-step activation/carbonization method. Different instrumental techniques were used to characterize the structural, morphological, and textural properties of the materials, including X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The chemical activation with different porogens (zinc chloride, potassium hydroxide and phosphoric acid) could be used to develop functional carbonaceous structures with high specific surface areas and significant quantities of pores. The BPW@H3PO4 carbon exhibited a high specific surface area (815 m2 g-1), chemical stability and good conductivity for use as an anode in lithium-ion batteries. After 200 cycles, this carbon delivered a reversible capacity of 272 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C, showing a notable retention capacity and good cycling performance even at high current densities, demonstrating its effectiveness and sustainability as an anode material for high-energy applications in Li-ion batteries.

Rational Design of Effective Binders for LiFePO4 Cathodes

Polymer binders are critical auxiliary additives to Li-ion batteries that provide adhesion and cohesion for electrodes to maintain conductive networks upon charge/discharge processes. Therefore, polymer binders become interconnected electrode structures affecting electrochemical performances, especially in LiFePO4 cathodes with one-dimensional Li+ channels. In this paper, recent improvements in the polymer binders used in the LiFePO4 cathodes of Li-ion batteries are reviewed in terms of structural design, synthetic methods, and working mechanisms. The polymer binders were classified into three types depending on their effects on the performances of LiFePO4 cathodes. The first consisted of PVDF and related composites, and the second relied on waterborne and conductive binders. Profound insights into the ability of binder structures to enhance cathode performance were discovered. Overcoming the bottleneck shortage originating from olivine structure LiFePO4 using efficient polymer structures is discussed. We forecast design principles for the polymer binders used in the high-performance LiFePO4 cathodes of Li-ion batteries. Finally, perspectives on the application of future binder designs for electrodes with poor conductivity are presented to provide possible design directions for chemical structures.

Facile Synthesis of Potassium-Doped Titanium Oxide Nanostructure (KTiOxs)/AlO(OH) Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Generally, nanoparticles (NPs) are used as photocatalysts, which sometimes results in difficulties in the separation and recycling of photocatalysts from suspensions after their application in water and wastewater treatment, which hinders industrial applications of NPs that are too fine to be removed by gravitational settling. This can be solved by using support NPs to overcome these problems. -OH enrich AlO(OH), which is produced by a steam coating process, has been could be used as a possible support, because the -OH groups on the surface can interact with foreign molecules; thus, various composite functional materials can be prepared. Potassium doped titanium oxide NPs, which are produced by a wet corrosion process, namely KTiOxs, have been selected as photocatalysts, because KTiOxs have sufficient K+ ions, thereby expecting the chemical bonding with -OH group from AlO(OH). This study fabricated a novel photocataysis system made by combining KTiOxs as catalysts and AlO(OH) as the catalysts’ support, namely KTiOxs/AlO(OH) composites. The KTiOxs nanowires, obtained from 10 mol/L of a KOH solution treated with Ti and AlO(OH) at 280 °C for 24 h through a steam coating process, yielded the highest surface area and the highest photocatalytic performance.

High Electrochemical Performance Silicon Thin-Film Free-Standing Electrodes Based on Buckypaper for Flexible Lithium-Ion Batteries

Recently, applications for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have expanded to include electric vehicles and electric energy storage systems, extending beyond power sources for portable electronic devices. The power sources of these flexible electronic devices require the creation of thin, light, and flexible power supply devices such as flexile electrolytes/insulators, electrode materials, current collectors, and batteries that play an important role in packaging. Demand will require the progress of modern electrode materials with high capacity, rate capability, cycle stability, electrical conductivity, and mechanical flexibility for the time to come. The integration of high electrical conductivity and flexible buckypaper (oxidized Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) film) and high theoretical capacity silicon materials are effective for obtaining superior high-energy-density and flexible electrode materials. Therefore, this study focuses on improving the high-capacity, capability-cycling stability of the thin-film Si buckypaper free-standing electrodes for lightweight and flexible energy-supply devices. First, buckypaper (oxidized MWCNTs) was prepared by assembling a free stand-alone electrode, and electrical conductivity tests confirmed that the buckypaper has sufficient electrical conductivity (10-4(S m-1) in LIBs) to operate simultaneously with a current collector. Subsequently, silicon was deposited on the buckypaper via magnetron sputtering. Next, the thin-film Si buckypaper freestanding electrodes were heat-treated at 600 °C in a vacuum, which improved their electrochemical performance significantly. Electrochemical results demonstrated that the electrode capacity can be increased by 27/26 and 95/93 μAh in unheated and heated buckypaper current collectors, respectively. The measured discharge/charge capacities of the USi_HBP electrode were 108/106 μAh after 100 cycles, corresponding to a Coulombic efficiency of 98.1%, whereas the HSi_HBP electrode indicated a discharge/charge capacity of 193/192 μAh at the 100th cycle, corresponding to a capacity retention of 99.5%. In particular, the HSi_HBP electrode can decrease the capacity by less than 1.5% compared with the value of the first cycle after 100 cycles, demonstrating excellent electrochemical stability.

Effects of SiC and Resorcinol-Formaldehyde (RF) Carbon Coatings on Silicon-Flake-Based Anode of Lithium Ion Battery

Silicon flakes of about 100 × 1000 × 1000 nm in sizes recycled from wastes of silicon wafer manufacturing processes were coated with combined silicon carbide (SiC) and graphitic (Resorcinol-Formaldehyde (RF)) carbon coatings to serve as active materials of the anode of lithium ion battery (LIB). Thermal carbonization of silicon at 1000 °C for 5 h forms 5-nm SiC encapsulating silicon flakes. SiC provides physical strength to help silicon flakes maintain physical integrity and isolating silicon from irreversible reactions with the electrolyte. Lithium diffuses through SiC before alloying with silicon. The SiC buffer layer results in uniform alloying reactions between lithium and silicon on the surface around a silicon flake. RF carbon coatings provide enhanced electrical conductivity of SiC encapsulated silicon flakes. We characterized the coatings and anode by SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS), and electrical resistance measurements. Coin half-cells with combined SiC and RF carbon coatings exhibit an initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 76% and retains a specific capacity of 955 mAh/g at 100th cycle and 850 mAh/g at 150th cycle of repetitive discharge and charge operation. Pre-lithiation of the anode increases the ICE to 97%. The SiC buffer layer reduces local stresses caused by non-uniform volume changes and improves the capacity retention and the cycling life.

Silicon-Based Anode of Lithium Ion Battery Made of Nano Silicon Flakes Partially Encapsulated by Silicon Dioxide

Ubiquitous mobile electronic devices and rapidly increasing electric vehicles demand a better lithium ion battery (LIB) with a more durable and higher specific charge storage capacity than traditional graphite-based ones. Silicon is among the most promising active media since it exhibits ten times of a specific capacity. However, alloying with lithium by silicon and dissociation of the silicon-lithium alloys induce high volume changes and result in pulverization. The loss of electrical contacts by silicon with the current collector of the anode causes rapid capacity decay. We report improved anode cycling performance made of silicon flakes partially encapsulated by silicon dioxide and coated with conductive nanocarbon films and CNTs. The silicon dioxide surface layer on a silicon flake improves the physical integrity for a silicon-based anode. The exposed silicon surface provides a fast transport of lithium ions and electrons. CNTs and nanocarbon films provide electrical connections between silicon flakes and the current collector. We report a novel way of manufacturing silicon flakes partially covered by silicon dioxide through breaking oxidized silicon flakes into smaller pieces. Additionally, we demonstrate an improved cycling life and capacity retention compared to pristine silicon flakes and silicon flakes fully encapsulated by silicon dioxide. Nanocarbon coatings provide conduction channels and further improve the anode performance.

High Quality Pyrazinoquinoxaline-Based Graphdiyne for Efficient Gradient Storage of Lithium Ions

N-doping of graphdiyne with atomic precision is very important for the study of heteroatom doping effect and the structure-properties relationships of graphdiyne. Here we report the bottom-up synthesis and characterizations of high-quality pyrazinoquinoxaline-based graphdiyne (PQ-GDY) film. First-principle studies of the layered structure were performed to examine the stacking mode, lithium binding affinity, and bulk lithium storage capacity. Three-stage insertion of 14 lithium atoms with binding affinities in the order of pyrazine nitrogen > diyne carbon > central aromatic ring were confirmed by both lithium-ion half-cell measurements and DFT calculations. More than half of the lithium atoms preferentially bind to pyrazine nitrogen, and a reversible capacity of 570.0 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 200 mA g^-1 after 800 cycles was achieved. Such a high capacity utilization rate of 97.2% provides a good case study of N-doped GDY with atomic precision.

Evolution of 3D Printing Methods and Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Additive manufacturing has revolutionized the building of materials, and 3D-printing has become a useful tool for complex electrode assembly for batteries and supercapacitors. The field initially grew from extrusion-based methods and quickly evolved to photopolymerization printing, while supercapacitor technologies less sensitive to solvents more often involved material jetting processes. The need to develop higher-resolution multimaterial printers is borne out in the performance data of recent 3D printed electrochemical energy storage devices. Underpinning every part of a 3D-printable battery are the printing method and the feed material. These influence material purity, printing fidelity, accuracy, complexity, and the ability to form conductive, ceramic, or solvent-stable materials. The future of 3D-printable batteries and electrochemical energy storage devices is reliant on materials and printing methods that are co-operatively informed by device design. Herein, the material and method requirements in 3D-printable batteries and supercapacitors are addressed and requirements for the future of the field are outlined by linking existing performance limitations to requirements for printable energy-storage materials, casings, and direct printing of electrodes and electrolytes. A guide to materials and printing method choice best suited for alternative-form-factor energy-storage devices to be designed and integrated into the devices they power is thus provided.

Fe3 SnC@CNF: A 3 D Antiperovskite Intermetallic Carbide System as a New Robust High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery Anode

A 3 D intermetallic anti-perovskite carbide, Fe₃ SnC, is reported as a Li-ion battery anode. Single-phase Fe₃ SnC showed a reversible Li-ion capacity of 426 mAh g^-1 that increased significantly (600 mAh g^-1 ) upon its in situ synthesis by electrospinning and pyrolysis to render a conducting carbon nanofibre (CNF) based composite. Importantly, the Fe₃ SnC@CNF composite showed excellent stability in up to 1000 cycles with a remarkable 96 % retention of capacity. The rate performance was equally impressive with a high capacity of 500 mAh g^-1 delivered at a high current density of 2 A g^-1 . An estimation of Li ion diffusion from the electrochemical impedance data showed a major enhancement of the rate by a factor of 2 in the case of Fe₃ SnC@CNF compared to the single-phase Fe₃ SnC sample. Post-cyclic characterisation revealed that the unit cell was retained despite a volume expansion upon the inclusion of four Li atoms per unit cell, as calculated from the capacity value. The cyclic voltammogram shows four distinctive peaks that could be identified as the sequential incorporation of up to four Li atoms. First-principles DFT calculations were performed to elucidate the favourable sites for the inclusion of 1-4 Li atoms inside the Fe₃ SnC unit cell along with the associated strain.

One-pot synthesis of tin chalcogenide-reduced graphene oxide-carbon nanotube nanocomposite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

In this study, a ternary tin chalcogenide (TC)–reduced graphene oxide (RGO)–carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposite was synthesized as a lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode by a simple one-step protocol.

Recent Progress in Carbon-Based Buffer Layers for Polymer Solar Cells

Carbon-based materials are promising candidates as charge transport layers in various optoelectronic devices and have been applied to enhance the performance and stability of such devices. In this paper, we provide an overview of the most contemporary strategies that use carbon-based materials including graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon quantum dots, and graphitic carbon nitride as buffer layers in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The crucial parameters that regulate the performance of carbon-based buffer layers are highlighted and discussed in detail. Furthermore, the performances of recently developed carbon-based materials as hole and electron transport layers in PSCs compared with those of commercially available hole/electron transport layers are evaluated. Finally, we elaborate on the remaining challenges and future directions for the development of carbon-based buffer layers to achieve high-efficiency and high-stability PSCs.

HIF-1α is a key mediator of the lung inflammatory potential of lithium-ion battery particles

Background

Li-ion batteries (LIB) are increasingly used worldwide. They are made of low solubility micrometric particles, implying a potential for inhalation toxicity in occupational settings and possibly for consumers. LiCoO₂ (LCO), one of the most used cathode material, induces inflammatory and fibrotic lung responses in mice. LCO also stabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) -1α, a factor implicated in inflammation, fibrosis and carcinogenicity. Here, we investigated the role of cobalt, nickel and HIF-1α as determinants of toxicity, and evaluated their predictive value for the lung toxicity of LIB particles in in vitro assays.

Results

By testing a set of 5 selected LIB particles (LCO, LiNiMnCoO₂, LiNiCoAlO₂) with different cobalt and nickel contents, we found a positive correlation between their in vivo lung inflammatory activity, and (i) Co and Ni particle content and their bioaccessibility and (ii) the stabilization of HIF-1α in the lung. Inhibition of HIF-1α with chetomin or PX-478 blunted the lung inflammatory response to LCO in mice. In IL-1β deficient mice, HIF-1α was the upstream signal of the inflammatory lung response to LCO. In vitro, the level of HIF-1α stabilization induced by LIB particles in BEAS-2B cells correlated with the intensity of lung inflammation induced by the same particles in vivo.

Conclusions

We conclude that HIF-1α, stabilized in lung cells by released Co and Ni ions, is a mechanism-based biomarker of lung inflammatory responses induced by LIB particles containing Co/Ni. Documenting the Co/Ni content of LIB particles, their bioaccessibility and their capacity to stabilize HIF-1α in vitro can be used to predict the lung inflammatory potential of LIB particles.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12989-019-0319-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.