Preparation and Electrode Performance of Fiber-Type Cu-Sn Negative Electrode for Li-Ion Battery

Abstract

A carbon fiber-type Cu-Sn negative electrode was prepared for use in the Li-ion battery. The Cu 6 Sn 5 alloy layer was formed on the carbon fibers by electroplating methods. After heat-treatment at 400 • C, the as-plated Cu 6 Sn 5 was transformed into multiple phases composed of Cu 3 Sn, SnO 2 and Cu 6 Sn 5 phases. The resultant Cu-Sn-400 fiber-type electrode exhibited better cycle-life and high-rate performances than the Cu 6 Sn 5 alloy based one. Even after 300 cycles, 72% of the initial discharge capacity was maintained. The phase compositions of the charged and discharged electrodes were investigated by a synchrotron XRD analysis.For more than two decades, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have been widely used as the power source of consumer electric devices, such as mobile phones, laptop computers and power tools. The research and development of this battery is now focused on applications in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and electric vehicle (EV) because of its superior high energy-density. 1,2 Total energy management, which involves the energy storage and supply between a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with a Li-ion battery and the power grid, is examined and introduced. 3,4 Furthermore, the demand of large-scale battery systems capable of delivering several hundreds of kWhs is gradually being extended to industrial applications, such as a battery-driven train, a wayside energy storage system for railways and stabilization of natural power generation. Verification tests have been carried out using the Li-ion battery 5-7 as well as a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) one. [8][9][10] Meanwhile, enhancements in the battery performances, such as power, cycle-life, safety and costs, are the crucial issues for Li-ion batteries in order to realize its widespread use in industrial applications.At present, a copper(Cu) foil is typically used for the negative current collectors of the Li-ion battery. A slurry containing the activematerial powder is coated on a Cu foil substrate. To improve the energy density and cycle-life performance of the Li-ion battery, Ni-foam substrates have been used. 11 Moreover, a proposed three-dimensional (3-D) micro-battery design, in which the number of electrodes is configured in a non-planar geometry, offers a solution for highrate capability due to the effectively increased electrode/electrolyte interface. 12,13 These advanced 3D electrode configurations would lead to enhanced battery performances.Recently, fiber-type Ni(OH) 2 electrodes were developed for the Ni-MH battery using the electrodeposition method. 14,15 In these electrodes, individual carbon fibers were coated with a Ni(OH) 2 layer. The test cell using the fiber-type electrodes exhibited better highrate and cycle-life performances than that of the conventional one. In order to realize the 3D micro-battery, both the positive and negative electrodes would be expected to change to fiber-type electrodes. However, for the Ni-MH battery, it would be very difficult to prepare a fiber-type negative alloy electrode using the ele...

Development of lithium ion battery using fiber-type lithium-rich cathode and carbon anode materials

“…In the second cycle, the coulomb efficiency increases to 92.9%, indicating the irreversible capacity is effectively compensated by inserting lithium ions during cycling. It is worth noting that the fiber anode shows a much less irreversible capacity than the carbon fiber reported by Yao et al [16], enabling its practical use in a battery. Fig.…”

“…In addition to the Ni-MH battery, a fiber-type LieAleMneO cathode has been prepared for use in the LIB, showing a favorable cycle life due to a stabilized crystalline structure [15]. In addition, the CueSn alloy has also been deposited onto the carbon fibers to form a fiber-type anode possessing a high specific capacity [16]. Furthermore, a full LIB has been developed using the fiber-type LieAleMneO cathode and CueSn alloy anode [17].…”

“…Nevertheless, a predoping process is necessary in order to initialize this cell because the CueSn anode possesses a remarkable irreversible capacity of ca. 300 mAh/g [16], making it difficult to be used in practical applications. A battery design without a predoping process is therefore imperative in realizing the application of LIBs using fiber-type electrodes.…”

Electrospun Cu/Sn/C Nanocomposite Fiber Anodes with Superior Usable Lifetime for Lithium‐ and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

“…The main concern for the application of Li-and Na-alloying materials in batteries is how to relax this large volume variation, which is accompanied by a significant capacity decrease related to the pulverization of the electrodes. [15] However, most Cu/Sn alloy electrodes have been reported to possess low reversible capacities due to high amounts of inactive Cu. Intermetallic compounds, such as Sn/Cu, Sn/ Ni, and Sn/Ca, provide inactive matrices capable of accommodating large volume variations upon reaction with lithium or sodium.…”

X-ray Diffraction Characterization and Battery Performances of Fiber-type Li-Mn-O Electrode for Li-ion Battery

“…6,7 For the positive electrode, the Al-substituted Li-Mn-O oxide, which is a low cost and low toxicity material, was prepared by electrodeposition and a hydrothermal reaction. In this report, the charge and discharge performances of the fiber-type Li-Mn-O electrode without Al addition was investigated.…”