Application of Carbonized Starches as Carbon Electrode Active Material Compared to Graphene Nanoplatelets-Based Anode in a Lithium-Ion Cell

Abstract

The main aim of this research is the examination of the physicochemical properties and their impact on the electrochemical activity of carbon materials obtained from the starch of different botanical origin (SCs). The obtained materials are compared to graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) of different particle sizes (5 and 25 µm) applied as an anode active material for high-performance lithium-ion cells. SCs were obtained via thermal carbonization and this process enables an obtainment of better sorption properties compared to GNPs. The excellent electrochemical properties are mainly attributed to the good DLi+ (3.03 × 10−13–7.64 × 10−11 cm2 s−1 for SCs and 7.60 × 10−13–5.42 × 10−12 cm2 s−1 for GNPs) and relatively small resistances (EIS). However, the primary focus is on the specific capacity and cyclability. The capacity retentions of CSC cycled at 1 mA g−1, 10 mA g−1, 50 mA g−1, 1 mA g−1 for 50 cycles are 98%, 99%, 96%, 94% with specific capacities equal to 820, 800, 790, 1000 mAh g−1, respectively. The 5GNPs and 25GNPs may present a much smaller reversible capacity of 650, 600 mAh g−1 at 10 mA g−1. The thermal modification process of starches is simple, safe and widely applied, providing new paths for rational engineering of anode materials for LIBs. Moreover, the applied materials are easily available worldwide and are promising in the well-known Green Chemistry aspect making the cells more biodegradable. Graphic Abstract

Starch as the Flame Retardant for Electrolytes in Lithium-Ion Cells

“…In Table 4, the diffusion coefficient and conductivity are shown, while the whole methodology was prepared by us in a previous work [54] and can also be found in the literature [55][56][57][58][59][60][61]. The values are high, which indicates that the diffusion was efficient.…”

Thermal Studies of Lithium-Ion Cells: Ensuring Safe and Efficient Energy Storage

“…This phenomenon can be attributed to the temperature affecting the ion charge transfer process at the electrode/electrolyte interface, leading to a notable decrease in R ct with rising Energies 2024, 17, 1993 6 of 17 temperatures [42]. Specifically, the sluggish kinetics resulting from this effect can lead to poor performance at low temperatures [43].…”

“…This phenomenon can be attributed to the temperature affecting the ion charge transfer process at the electrode/electrolyte interface, leading to a notable decrease in Rct with rising temperatures [42]. Specifically, the sluggish kinetics resulting from this effect can lead to poor performance at low temperatures [43]. The equivalent circuit for the anode material and the electrolyte used in lithium-ion cells contains elements such as CPEDL-double layer capacitance, CPESEI-SEI layer capacitance, Rct-charge transfer resistance and the resistance of the passive layer of the particle interface, Rel-the resistance of the electrolyte, and WLi+-the Warburg impedance associated with the diffusion of Li + (Figure 5d).…”

Electrochemical Processes and Reactions In Rechargeable Battery Materials Revealed via In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy

“…By contrast, when graphene is disordered, the theoretical specific capacity of 2D graphene reaches 650 mA h g −1 , and even up to 1054 mA h g −1 . [105,106] Generally, the enhanced specific capacity is mainly ascribed to lithium absorbed on both sides of graphene plane. However, the proposed atomistic configurations are contradictory and have neither been resolved nor verified by microscopic methods.…”