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Tailoring the Microstructure and Electrochemical Performance of 3D Microbattery Electrodes Based on Carbon Foams
Author(s) -
Asfaw Habtom Desta,
Kotronia Antonia,
Tai Cheuk-Wai,
Nyholm Leif,
Edström Kristina
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201900797
Subject(s) - materials science , microstructure , electrochemistry , faraday efficiency , electrode , carbon fibers , void (composites) , current density , chemical engineering , emulsion , composite material , lithium (medication) , carbon nanofoam , current collector , power density , polymer , nanotechnology , porosity , chemistry , composite number , electrolyte , medicine , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , endocrinology
Three‐dimensional (3D) carbon electrodes with suitable microstructural features and stable electrochemical performance are required for practical applications in 3D lithium (Li)‐ion batteries. Herein, the optimization of the microstructures and electrochemical performances of carbon electrodes derived from emulsion‐templated polymer foams are dealt with. Exploiting the rheological properties of the emulsion precursors, carbon foams with variable void sizes and specific surface areas are obtained. Carbon foams with an average void size of around 3.8 μm are produced, and improvements are observed both in the coulombic efficiency and the cyclability of the carbon foam electrodes synthesized at 2200 °C. A stable areal capacity of up to 1.22 mAh cm −2 (108 mAh g −1 ) is achieved at a current density of 50 μA cm −2 . In addition, the areal capacity remains almost unaltered, i.e., 1.03 mAh cm −2 (91 mAh g −1 ), although the cycling current density increases to 500 μA cm −2 indicating that the materials are promising for power demanding applications.