Enhancing the performance of germanium nanowire anodes for Li-ion batteries by direct growth on textured copper

Geaney, Hugh; Bree, Gerard; Stokes, Killian; Collins, Gearoid A.; Aminu, Ibrahim Saana; Kennedy, Tadhg; Ryan, Kevin M.

doi:10.1039/c9cc03579f

Cited by 23 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…[ 2,4,8,9,15–18 ] However, even as these CCs offer various advantages, they present a number of challenges. For example, the low surface area of planar metal foils is not ideal for achieving the much needed high Si NW loading, [ 9,19 ] and often results in low yields (e.g., 0.18–0.4 mg cm −2 ). [ 1,2,4,9,18,20 ] The electrical and mechanical properties of carbon based‐substrates are also inferior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Copper Silicide Nanofoam Current Collector for Directly Grown Si Nanowire Networks and their Application as Lithium‐Ion Anodes

Aminu

Geaney

Imtiaz

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

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Silicon nanowires (Si NWs) have been identified as an excellent candidate material for the replacement of graphite in anodes, allowing for a significant boost in the capacity of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, high‐density Si NWs are grown on a novel 3D interconnected network of binary‐phase Cu‐silicide nanofoam (3D CuxSiy NF) substrate. The nanofoam facilitates the uniform distribution of well‐segregated and small‐sized catalyst seeds, leading to high‐density/single‐phase Si NW growth with an areal‐loading in excess of 1.0 mg cm−2 and a stable areal capacity of ≈2.0 mAh cm−2 after 550 cycles. The use of the 3D CuxSiy NF as a substrate is further extended for Al, Bi, Cu, In, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sn, and Zn mediated Si NW growth, demonstrating the general applicability of the anode architecture.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Copper Silicide Nanofoam Current Collector for Directly Grown Si Nanowire Networks and their Application as Lithium‐Ion Anodes

Aminu

Geaney

Imtiaz

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

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“…[99][100][101][102][103] The stable capacity behavior observed for Si/CuSi coincided with the formation of a robust interconnected framework of nanometer-sized Si ligaments, capable of overcoming stressinduced fracturing of the SEI layer upon repeated expansion and contraction of the active material. [1,2,62,68,[108][109][110] SEM of Si/CuSi (1.24 mg cm −2 ) after 5 and 50 cycles (Figure 6a,b) allowed the evolution of the crystalline Si NWs to an amorphous Si mesh to be tracked. After 5 cycles, the wire-like morphology is still apparent with slight texturing and fusion of adjacent NWs (Figure 6a).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This agrees with previous works that have suggested that the formation of this interwoven architecture is due to a combination of pore formation and electrochemical welding over successive cycles. [31,108,109,[111][112][113] The Si mesh layer demonstrates excellent adhesion to the underlying 3D CuSi NW framework. The Si mesh remains well anchored to both the bulk CuSi film and individual CuSi NWs after 300 cycles, with this behavior reflected by the electrochemical stability of Si/CuSi of different Si loadings (Figure 4).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Nanowire Nest Structure Comprising Copper Silicide and Silicon Nanowires for Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes with High Areal Loading

Collins

Kilian

Geaney

et al. 2021

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expansion during charge (300% when fully lithiated). [9][10][11][12][13] The build-up of mechanical stress through expansion of the active layer causes a loss of electrical contact with the non-expanding current collector, exacerbating capacity fade. Nanostructuring can alleviate mechanical stress build-up through smaller particle sizes, structural porosity and void spaces. [9,10] Nanoparticles (NPs), [14][15][16][17] nanowires (NWs), [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] and nanotubes (NTs) [26][27][28][29] are the most widely used morphologies, allowing for structural relaxation through shortened diffusion channels, increased porosity and larger surface area to volume ratios.Cu is the optimal current collector for lithium-ion battery anodes, due to its superior electrical conductivity over stainless steel (SS) and other carbon-based substrates. However, direct growth of Si on Cu yields electrochemically inactive CuSi compounds. [30][31][32] Alternatively, slurry-based Si electrodes suffer from issues of capacity fade as harsh expansion leads to electrical contact loss with the current collector. [33][34][35] Also, issues of capacity fade are heightened for thicker slurry layers, behaving similarly to bulk Si. [36,37] Si composites with graphite have gained huge popularity over recent years, synergistically combining the high lithiation capacity of Si with the low cost, stability, and scalability of carbon. [38][39][40][41][42] Graphite incorporation can alleviate instability issues common with Si-rich electrodes. [43,44] Karuppiah et al. demonstrated impressive long-term stability of slurry-based electrodes of Si NWs directly grown on graphite, retaining 87% capacity after 250 cycles versus Li metal. [44] Similarly, Datta et al. found that Si/graphite stability could be further enhanced through amorphous carbon coating, removing direct contact between Si and the electrolyte, and delivering a stable capacity of 660 mAh g −1 . [45] Slurry-based composites allow for high achievable Si loadings while maintaining anode stability. However, thick slurry layers suffer from poor fast-rate performance and inactive slurry additions negatively impact energy density. [46][47][48][49] The incorporation of Si into metallic or carbonbased frameworks like Mxenes, [50,51] graphene, [52,53] CNTs, [54,55] and CNFs [56,57] has allowed considerable improvements in cell stability, although the continued presence of inactive slurry components increases dead weight. Directly grown electrodes offer a multitude of advantages over slurry-based configurations, however, achieving stable performance of high loading binder-free Si electrodes has historically been difficult.High loading (>1.6 mg cm −2 ) of Si nanowires (NWs) is achieved by seeding the growth from a dense array of Cu 15 Si 4 NWs using tin seeds. A one-pot synthetic approach involves the direct growth of CuSi NWs on Cu foil that acts as a textured surface for Sn adhesion and Si NW nucleation. The high achievable Si NW loading is enabled by the high surface area of CuSi NWs and bolst...

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“…In recent decades, one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures have become the subject of extensive research, owing to their unique and excellent electrical, optical, thermal, mechanical, and magnetic properties. To date, many literature studies have reported the potential applications of 1D nanostructures in new nanoelectronic devices [1][2][3], optoelectronic devices [4,5], solar cells [6][7][8], energy storage devices [9,10], biosensors [11,12], chemical sensors [13,14], and field emission emitters [15,16]. To utilize the excellent properties of 1D nanostructures in the electronic devices, nanostructure welding technology, which can realize good Ohmic and machinal contact between an 1D nanostructure and an electrode, has been one of the most important processes in the application of 1D nanostructures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Universal Method to Weld Individual One-Dimensional Nanostructures with a Tungsten Needle Based on Synergy of the Electron Beam and Electrical Current

et al. 2020

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One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures are extensively used in the design of novel electronic devices, sensors, and energy devices. One of the major challenges faced by the electronics industry is the problem of contact between the 1D nanostructure and electrode, which can limit or even jeopardize device operations. Herein, a universal method that can realize good Ohmic and mechanical contact between an individual 1D nanostructure and a tungsten needle at sub-micron or micron scale is investigated and presented in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) chamber with the synergy of an electron beam and electrical current flowing through the welded joint. The linear I‒V curves of five types of individual 1D nanostructures, characterized by in-situ electrical measurements, demonstrate that most of them demonstrate good Ohmic contact with the tungsten needle, and the results of in-situ tensile measurements demonstrate that the welded joints possess excellent mechanical performance. By simulation analysis using the finite element method, it is proved that the local heating effect, which is mainly produced by the electrical current flowing through the welded joints during the welding process, is the key factor in achieving good Ohmic contact.

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Enhancing the performance of germanium nanowire anodes for Li-ion batteries by direct growth on textured copper

Abstract: Capacity retention of directly grown Ge nanowire anodes is enhanced by replacing stainless steel with textured Cu foil current collectors.

Cited by 23 publications

References 41 publications

A Copper Silicide Nanofoam Current Collector for Directly Grown Si Nanowire Networks and their Application as Lithium‐Ion Anodes

A Copper Silicide Nanofoam Current Collector for Directly Grown Si Nanowire Networks and their Application as Lithium‐Ion Anodes

A Nanowire Nest Structure Comprising Copper Silicide and Silicon Nanowires for Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes with High Areal Loading

A Universal Method to Weld Individual One-Dimensional Nanostructures with a Tungsten Needle Based on Synergy of the Electron Beam and Electrical Current

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