Nanostructured Lithium-Aluminum Alloy Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Electrodeposited aluminum films and template-synthesized aluminum nanorods are examined as negative electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. The lithium-aluminum alloying reaction is observed electrochemically with cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling in lithium half-cells. The electrodeposition reaction is shown to have high faradaic efficiency, and electrodeposited aluminum films reach theoretical capacity for the formation of LiAl (1 Ah/g). The performance of electrodeposited aluminum films is dependent on film thickness, with thicker films exhibiting better cycling behavior. The same trend is shown for electron-beam deposited aluminum films, suggesting that aluminum film thickness is the major determinant in electrochemical performance regardless of deposition technique. Synthesis of aluminum nanorod arrays on stainless steel substrates is demonstrated using electrodeposition into anodic aluminum oxide templates followed by template dissolution. Unlike nanostructures of other lithium-alloying materials, the electrochemical performance of these aluminum nanorod arrays is worse than that of bulk aluminum.

Exploring the Reversibility of Phase Transformations in Aluminum Anodes through Operando Light Microscopy and Stress Analysis

“…Based on preliminary observations, it is the reverse transformation from β to α phase that may be the biggest concern and most critical to capacity fading: Hudak et al suggest that this process is more problematic since the capacity decay is only observed during delithiation. [9] Furthermore, Tahmasebi et al observed using the ex situ SEM fracture and delamination of Al thin films during delithiation. [10] An in situ TEM study indicates that Al nanowire anodes evolve to become isolated particles after repeating cycles, with void growth during delithiation being the primary cause for pulverization.…”

“…The origin of this seemingly intrinsic degradation is not entirely clear. Based on preliminary observations, it is the reverse transformation from β to α phase that may be the biggest concern and most critical to capacity fading: Hudak et al suggest that this process is more problematic since the capacity decay is only observed during delithiation [9] . Furthermore, Tahmasebi et al observed using the ex situ SEM fracture and delamination of Al thin films during delithiation [10] .…”

Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials to Achieve High-Energy-Density Supercapacitors

“…The CV curves in the LiPF 6 -based electrolyte display an abrupt peak at low scan rates at 0.50/0.15 V vs. Li/Li + . This peak can be assigned to the interaction of Li + with the Al collector (Hudak and Huber, 2011). This is a specific property of Al in the LiPF 6 -based electrolyte, which is not observed in sodium electrolytes (Figure 1).…”

Nanoconfined NaAlH4 Conversion Electrodes for Li Batteries

“…Similar to that in the published results, the LiAl alloy here has an unsatisfactory long-term stability and becomes irreversible. 36,37 After 10 cycles, Na_CA acts similar to empty CA. According to the voltammogram of Na_CA, the origin of capacity can be divided into three parts upon cycling.…”