Fe3O4 nanoparticle-integrated graphene sheets for high-performance half and full lithium ion cells

• Published in: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP Vol. 13; no. 15; pp. 7170 - 7177
• Main Authors: LIWEN JI, ZHONGKUI TAN, KUYKENDALL, Tevye R, ALONI, Shaul, SHIDI XUN, ERIC LIN, BATTAGLIA, Vincent, YUEGANG ZHANG
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 21.04.2011
• Subjects: Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Electrochemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Surface physical chemistry; Binary compound; Anode; Chemical precipitation; Nanoparticle; Transition element compounds; Oxides; Nanostructure; High temperature; Retention; Texture; Dispersion; Electric discharge; Chemical reduction; Magnetite; Morphology; Graphite; Electrochemistry; Surface properties; Environment; Chemical composition; Nanocomposite; Argon; Microstructure; Lithium ion
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/c1cp20455f

We synthesized Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticle/reduced graphene oxide (RGO-Fe(3)O(4)) nanocomposites and evaluated their performance as anodes in both half and full coin cells. The nanocomposites were synthesized through a chemical co-precipitation of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) in the presence of graphene oxides within an alkaline solution and a subsequent high-temperature reduction reaction in argon (Ar) environment. The morphology and microstructures of the fabricated RGO-Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques. The results indicated that the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles had relatively homogeneous dispersions on the RGO sheet surfaces. These as-synthesized RGO-Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposites were used as anodes for both half and full lithium-ion cells. Electrochemical measurement results exhibit a high reversible capacity which is about two and a half times higher than that of graphite-based anodes at a 0.05C rate, and an enhanced reversible capacity of about 200 mAh g(-1) even at a high charge/discharge rate of 10C (9260 mA g(-1)) in half cells. Most important of all, these fabricated novel nanostructures also show exceptional capacity retention with the assembled RGO-Fe(3)O(4)/LiNi(1/3)Mn(1/3)Co(1/3)O(2) full cell at different C rates. This outstanding electrochemical behavior can be attributed to the unique microstructure, morphology, texture, surface properties of the nanocomposites, and combinative effects from the different chemical composition in the nanocomposites.