Enhanced electrochemical performance of ion-beam-treated 3D graphene aerogels for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

High energy light-ion (3.8 MeV He) bombardment is used to introduce lattice defects in a 3dimensional (3D) interconnected network of graphene aerogels (GAs). When these materials are used as anodes for lithium ion battery, we observe improved percentage reversible capacity and cycle stability compared to those without ion-beam treatment. Furthermore, all ion-beam treated 3D graphene samples exhibit substantially higher Coulombic efficiencies, suggesting at beneficial role of vacancy-type defects in stabilizing solid-electrolyte interphases. Although 3D graphene exhibits initial reversible capacities that are 2-3 times higher than that of graphite (~372 mAh/g), fast capacity fading is observed but becomes more stable after ion-beam treatment. Our experimental results demonstrate that ion-beam treatment is an effective route to tune and produce good-performance graphene electrodes, and that vacancy-type defects help to promote reversible lithium storage capacity in graphene. We further observe that 3D GAs irradiated to the highest dose studied (10 16 cm -2 ) fail rapidly upon electrochemical cycling, likely caused by the excessive ion-beam damage and graphene restacking. Raman I(D)/I(D') signature is considered linked to defect type in graphene and thus is proposed, for the first time, as an indicator of the reversible capacity for GAs.

Toward Low-Cost, High-Energy Density, and High-Power Density Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…46,[51][52][53] There have been several studies on modifying graphite surfaces such as heat and acid treatment to control surface chemistry (e.g., oxygen and nitrogen). [54][55][56][57][58] Nitrogen or oxygen on graphite surfaces can interact more with Li + in electrolyte because their electron density is high. Heat treatment in an inert environment can reduce oxygen from the graphite surface.…”

Long-Term Lithium-Ion Battery Performance Improvement via Ultraviolet Light Treatment of the Graphite Anode

“…14 Effects of other surface treatments on SEI formation have also been reported. [15][16][17][18] Increasing hydrophilicity of hydrophobic graphite improves electrolyte wetting, especially in small pores. 19 In the polymer industry, carbon nanotubes have been used as strength-enhancing materials in polymer structures, 20 but the carbon nanotubes do not disperse well in the polymer matrix because their surfaces are hydrophobic like graphite.…”

Nanostructured Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries: Progress, Challenge and Perspective

“…[116,117] In contrast to this, wet chemistry provides low cost synthesis that can be afforded by the road market but results poor control over the structure and composition of nanostructured anode materials. [118,119] Thus, a suitable synthesis methods needs to be opted and modified that can develop the nanostructures of above mentioned materials at low cost with good control over composition, morphology and structure to lower the overall cost of the battery. [120][121][122][123][124] In the next sections, we will highlight the recent progress on anode nanostructures, most suitable synthesis methods and the use of insitu characterizations to analyze the dynamic changes in electrode nanostructures that will be helpful to develop advanced materials for LIBs.…”