Carbon fiber@ pore-ZnO composite as anode materials for structural lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland) Vol. 833; pp. 39 - 46
• Main Authors: Han, Qigang, Li, Xiang, Wang, Fangxue, Han, Zhiwu, Geng, Di, Zhang, Wenqiang, Li, Yao, Deng, Yushan, Zhang, Junqiu, Niu, Shichao, Wang, Limin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.01.2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Anode; Anodes; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon fibers; Current density; Electrode materials; Flux density; Lightweight multifunctional composite; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Metal-organic frameworks; MOF; Nanoparticles; Rechargeable batteries; Structural lithium-ion batteries; Zinc oxide; Lightweight multifunctional composite; Anode; MOF; Structural lithium-ion batteries
• ISSN: 1572-6657; 1873-2569
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2018.11.014

The carbon fiber (CF) provides the possibility for both structural and energy functions in the structural lithium-ion batteries (SLIBs). One of the intractable problems in SLIBs is the low energy density of CF. In order to overcoming the defect of CF, an integrated CF@ pore-ZnO composite is fabricated, by using ZnO nanoparticles (from the metal organic frameworks, MOFs) uniformly coated onto the surface of CF. As an anode material, the CF@ pore-ZnO composite showing a high reversible capacity of 510mAhg−1 was maintained over 300cycles at a current density of 100mAg−1 (3.42 times than that of CF). Furthermore, even at a high current density of 2000mAg−1, the substantial discharge capacity of 395mAhg−1 could be delivered after 1000cycles. These good electrochemical performances in capacity can attributed to the combined superiority of the pore-ZnO with high theoretical specific capacity, desired specific surface areas (porous structure). This work presents a solution to the limitation of capacity in current SLIBs, when using commercial CF as anode materials. •An integrated CF@ pore-ZnO composite is fabricated by using ZnO nanoparticles uniformly coated onto the surface of CF.•The CF@ pore-ZnO composite shows enhanced cycling and rate capacity.•The prepared CF@ pore-ZnO composite can act as an anode material for future structural lithium-ion batteries.