Nanostructured metal oxide-based materials as advanced anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The search for new electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been an important way to satisfy the ever-growing demands for better performance with higher energy/power densities, improved safety and longer cycle life. Nanostructured metal oxides exhibit good electrochemical properties, and they are regarded as promising anode materials for high-performance LIBs. In this feature article, we will focus on three different categories of metal oxides with distinct lithium storage mechanisms: tin dioxide (SnO(2)), which utilizes alloying/dealloying processes to reversibly store/release lithium ions during charge/discharge; titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), where lithium ions are inserted/deinserted into/out of the TiO(2) crystal framework; and transition metal oxides including iron oxide and cobalt oxide, which react with lithium ions via an unusual conversion reaction. For all three systems, we will emphasize that creating nanomaterials with unique structures could effectively improve the lithium storage properties of these metal oxides. We will also highlight that the lithium storage capability can be further enhanced through designing advanced nanocomposite materials containing metal oxides and other carbonaceous supports. By providing such a rather systematic survey, we aim to stress the importance of proper nanostructuring and advanced compositing that would result in improved physicochemical properties of metal oxides, thus making them promising negative electrodes for next-generation LIBs.

Ordered mesoporous titanium oxide for thin film microbatteries with enhanced lithium storage

“…The amount of inserted Li + in the TiO 2 is dependent on whether the crystal structure is anatase, rutile or amorphous, as well as on the microstructure [3][4][5][6]. For the TiO 2 treated at 400 ºC the total capacity in the first discharge was 258. anatase is possible in these films with 100 nm thickness due to the fact that their mesostructure (i.e.…”

“…Nowadays the performance of LIBs is dominated by the chemistry design of electrode materials [1,2]. For highpower applications of LIBs, it is recommendable to find anode materials alternative to graphite due to its low capacity at high rates and low reaction potential (close to 0.1 V vs. Li + /Li 0 ) [3,4]. Therefore, the scientific community is still exploring potential candidates.…”

“…Upon reaching this goal, safety in batteries could be achieved. For instance, metal oxides have represented an interesting class of anode materials due to their high capacities [4]. Among metal oxide materials, TiO 2 has been widely considered because…”

Recent Advances in Designing High‐Capacity Anode Nanomaterials for Li‐Ion Batteries and Their Atomic‐Scale Storage Mechanism Studies

“…In Li/SnO 2 anodes, the electrochemical processes can be demonstrated by the equations below84, 85 ${\mathrm{SnO}}_2\hspace{0.17em}+\hspace{0.17em}4{\mathrm{Li}}^{+}\hspace{0.17em}+\hspace{0.17em}4{\mathrm{normale}}^{-}\hspace{0.17em}\to \hspace{0.17em}\mathrm{Sn}\hspace{0.17em}+\hspace{0.17em}2{\mathrm{Li}}_2\mathrm{O}$ $\mathrm{Sn}\hspace{0.17em}+\hspace{0.17em}x{\mathrm{Li}}^{+}\hspace{0.17em}+\hspace{0.17em}x{\mathrm{normale}}^{-}\hspace{0.17em}\leftrightarrow \hspace{0.17em}{\mathrm{Li}}_x\mathrm{Sn}\hspace{1em}(0\hspace{0.17em}\le \hspace{0.17em}x\hspace{0.17em}\le \hspace{0.17em}4.4)$ …”

Transmission electron microscopy analysis of some transition metal compounds for energy storage and conversion

“…With the help of advanced TEM techniques, the origin of the properties of these anode materials encoded in their microstructures can be elucidated. Several review articles covering such subjects have been published [9,[15][16][17][18][19]. To illustrate a property-structure relationship, the importance of obtaining high resolution images and spectra is obvious.…”