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High Areal Capacity Si/LiCoO 2 Batteries from Electrospun Composite Fiber Mats
Author(s) -
Self Ethan C.,
Naguib Michael,
Ruther Rose E.,
McRen Emily C.,
Wycisk Ryszard,
Liu Gao,
Nanda Jagjit,
Pintauro Peter N.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201700096
Subject(s) - anode , electrospinning , materials science , fiber , composite number , nanofiber , chemical engineering , composite material , electrode , cathode , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , polymer , chemistry , engineering
Abstract Freestanding nanofiber mat Li–ion battery anodes containing Si nanoparticles, carbon black, and poly(acrylic acid) (Si/C/PAA) are prepared using electrospinning. The mats are compacted to a high fiber volume fraction (≈0.85), and interfiber contacts are welded by exposing the mat to methanol vapor. A compacted+welded fiber mat anode containing 40 wt % Si exhibits high capacities of 1484 mA h g −1 (3500 mA h g - 1Si) at 0.1 C and 489 mA h g −1 at 1 C and good cycling stability (e.g., 73 % capacity retention over 50 cycles). Post‐mortem analysis of the fiber mats shows that the overall electrode structure is preserved during cycling. Whereas many nanostructured Si anodes are hindered by their low active material loadings and densities, thick, densely packed Si/C/PAA fiber mat anodes reported here have high areal and volumetric capacities (e.g., 4.5 mA h cm −2 and 750 mA h cm −3 , respectively). A full cell containing an electrospun Si/C/PAA anode and electrospun LiCoO 2 ‐based cathode has a high specific energy density of 270 Wh kg −1 . The excellent performance of the electrospun Si/C/PAA fiber mat anodes is attributed to the: i) PAA binder, which interacts with the SiO x surface of Si nanoparticles and ii) high material loading, high fiber volume fraction, and welded interfiber contacts of the electrospun mats.