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Synergistic Effect of Flakes Containing Interconnected Nanoparticles and Conducting Graphene Additive to Qualify ZnMn 2 O 4 as Potential Lithium‐Battery Anode
Author(s) -
Sekhar Bongu Chandra,
Packiyalakshmi Parameswaran,
Kalaiselvi Nallathamby
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201600914
Subject(s) - anode , materials science , faraday efficiency , graphene , lithium (medication) , electrochemistry , electrode , composite number , nanocomposite , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , battery (electricity) , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , medicine , power (physics) , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics , endocrinology
Abstract ZnMn 2 O 4 flakes, composed of interconnected nanoparticles were synthesized by using a hydrothermal technique and treated subsequently with nitrogen‐doped graphene (NG) to obtain a composite containing graphene sheets decorated with ZnMn 2 O 4 nanoparticles. When explored as a lithium‐battery anode, ZnMn 2 O 4 /NG exhibits a superior electrochemical performance compared to a pristine ZnMn 2 O 4 anode. Interestingly, the ZnMn 2 O 4 /NG composite anode displays a steady‐state reversible capacity of 1400 mAh g −1 at 100 mA g −1 , which is higher than the theoretical capacity and the highest ever capacity achieved so far, with respect to the ZnMn 2 O 4 electrode material. Furthermore, the nanocomposite anode shows a stable capacity of 790 mAh g −1 up to 1000 cycles and the corresponding coulombic efficiency is 99 % at 500 mA g −1 , exhibiting excellent rate capability. The superior electrochemical performance of the ZnMn 2 O 4 /NG anode may be ascribed to the multiple synergistic advantages offered by NG, such as enhanced electrode conductivity, maintenance of structural integrity upon cycling, and the effective accommodation of volume changes during charging and discharging. Our results indicate that the synthesized ZnMn 2 O 4 /NG nanocomposite anode could be considered as a promising candidate for next‐generation high‐rate lithium‐ion‐battery applications.