Scalable synthesis of Li2GeO3/expanded graphite as a high-performance anode for Li-ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 898; p. 162893
• Main Authors: Li, Fangkun, Wang, Xinyi, He, Weixin, Xu, Xijun, Liu, Zhengbo, Shen, Jiadong, Hu, Yunfei, Chen, Zhonghua, Liu, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 25.03.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anode; Anodes; Ball milling; Coated structure; Discharge; Expanded graphite; Graphite; Li2GeO3; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Rechargeable batteries; Lithium-ion batteries; Expanded graphite; Anode; Coated structure; Li2GeO3
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.162893

•The Li2GeO3/EG was prepared by a simple, economical and easily scalable high-energy ball-milling method.•Li2GeO3 particles were uniformly grown on EG nanosheets.•The EG coating can improve the electronic conductivity of Li2GeO3.•The Li2GeO3/EG composite exhibits remarkably enhanced lithium storage performance. [Display omitted] A simple, economical, and easily scalable high-energy ball-milling method for the synthesis of Li2GeO3/expanded graphite (LGO/EG) as a high-performance anode for lithium-ion batteries is reported. The LGO/EG exhibits a unique architecture with expanded graphite (EG) uniformly coating Li2GeO3 (LGO) particles, which effectively inhibited the agglomeration of LGO particles. The LGO/7 wt%EG anode delivers a discharge capacity of 800.6 mA h g−1 at 5.0 A g−1, with an outstanding capacity retention of 75.9% after 300 cycles at 1.0 A g−1, which is 8.3% higher than that of the uncoated LGO anode. This is attributed to the introduction of EG which improves the electronic conductivity of LGO, and the uniformly coated EG can effectively inhibit the volume change of LGO particles during the charging-discharging process. As a result, LGO/EG has outstanding high-rate performance and long-term cycle stability.