Nanostructured Composite Foils Produced Via Accumulative Roll Bonding as Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

Abstract

In this work, we introduce a new nanostructured composite foil (NCF) alloying anode framework for high-capacity anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. These materials are manufactured with an accumulative roll-bonding process, a simple route for the generation of hierarchical nanostructures. The model Sn/Cu NCF system provides volumetric capacities between 1000 and 1720 mA h cm −3 , equating to a projected 20−50% increase in cell-level volumetric energy density. The initial electrochemical cycle was associated with an efficient formation process (88−92%) that drastically increased transport kinetics, allowing for rapid lithiation (>8 mA cm −2 ) on subsequent cycles. The introduction of a multilayered inactive copper matrix successfully eliminated loss of the active material as a degradation mechanism, while loss of lithium-inventory limited long-term cyclability in lithium-limited environments. Further development of this framework to mitigate loss of lithium inventory may provide a promising route toward the production of high-energy battery materials.

Electrochemistry of Thin Films and Nanostructured Materials

“…The first group of methods includes the so-called top-down approaches, which involves reducing the size of bulk materials to nanoscale through the use of mechanical processes and lithography. Among them can be distinguished mechanical alloying [ 79 ], high-energy ball milling [ 80 ], equal-channel angle pressing [ 81 ], high-pressure torsion [ 82 , 83 ], accumulative roll bonding [ 84 ], chemical etching [ 85 ], laser ablation [ 86 ], and various lithography techniques [ 87 , 88 , 89 ]. Top-down methods of synthesis of nanostructured materials allow us to produce ideal periodic structures without any defects and in a repeatable manner, but often require advanced and expensive equipment, e.g., ion beam, E-beam, X-ray, and interference lithographic techniques.…”