High energy density lithium-ion batteries are widely used and studied because of their applications in portable electronic products, electric vehicles and so on. To make this technology practical to the application of electronic products, research groups are putting lots of efforts to pursue higher energy density. For example, the study of high energy density activity data and the design of electrode structure are two approaches to maximize the capacity of lithium-ion batteries.
Considering this, three dimensional (3D) graphene provides a promising method for developing high energy density electrodes on both cathode and anode, because it has the ability to provide conductive 3D network, improving lithium-ion and electron transfer, and adapting to the changes of structure and volume in the transfer process.
Therefore, we are synthesizing and using the three-dimensional graphene related nano composite electrodes in batteries, developing batteries with high performance, high energy density and high capacity. At the same time, it is also expected to propose potential research prospects and contribute to the research of high-performance batteries.
Organic-Catalysis-Free and Low-Temperature Synthesis of Vertically Aligned Graphene Nano-Stripes for Enhancing Performance of LiFePO4-based Li-ion Batteries
Practical and efficient integrations of graphene into real applications are identically important as their various superior properties. Among various graphene-related materials, vertical graphene stripes (VGSs, in nanoscale) are one kind of interconnected graphene sheet which oriented perpendicularly to the growth substrate with 3-dimensional porous structures. Due to the high surface-to-volume ratio, VGSs could be an even better candidate than pure graphene when considering physical mixing graphene-related materials with other substances. In this study, we demonstrate an organic-catalysis-free and low-temperature approach (<300 °C) to efficiently grow VGSs without utilizing any environmentally harmful chemicals. The as-synthesized VGSs were comprehensively characterized by means of different microscopes, Raman spectra, X-ray diffractometers, and electrochemical tests. Compare with existing literature, a discrepancy in terms of growth mechanism was first discovered via time-independent Raman spectra showing that the horizontal buffer layers are not necessary prior to the formation of VGSs. More importantly, the as-synthesized VGSs were introduced into the cathode of Li-ion batteries, and outstanding functionalities such as specific capacity and charge/discharge stabilities were found to even outperform carbon black (C65), a classic commercial conductive additive.
Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices, Accepted (2023).