Self-Relaxant Superelastic Matrix Derived from C₆₀ Incorporated Sn Nanoparticles for Ultra-High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Homogeneously dispersed Sn nanoparticles approximately ⩽10 nm in a polymerized C (PC) matrix, employed as the anode of a Li-ion battery, are prepared using plasma-assisted thermal evaporation coupled by chemical vapor deposition. The self-relaxant superelastic characteristics of the PC possess the ability to absorb the stress-strain generated by the Sn nanoparticles and can thus alleviate the problem of their extreme volume changes. Meanwhile, well-dispersed dot-like Sn nanoparticles, which are surrounded by a thin SnO layer, have suitable interparticle spacing and multilayer structures for alleviating the aggregation of Sn nanoparticles during repeated cycles. The Ohmic characteristic and the built-in electric field formed in the interparticle junction play important roles in enhancing the diffusion and transport rate of Li ions. SPC-50, a Sn-PC anode consisting of 50 wt % Sn and 50 wt % PC, as confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, exhibited the highest electrochemical performance. The resulting SPC-50 anode, in a half-cell configuration, exhibited an excellent capacity retention of 97.18%, even after 5000 cycles at a current density of 1000 mA g with a discharge capacity of 834.25 mAh g. In addition, the rate-capability performance of this SPC-50 half-cell exhibited a discharge capacity of 544.33 mAh g at a high current density of 10 000 mA g, even after the current density was increased 100-fold. Moreover, a very high discharge capacity of 1040.09 mAh g was achieved with a capacity retention of 98.67% after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g. Futhermore, a SPC-50 full-cell containing the LiCoO cathode exhibited a discharge capacity of 801.04 mAh g and an areal capacity of 1.57 mAh cm with a capacity retention of 95.27% after 350 cycles at a current density of 1000 mA g.

Enhanced Interfacial Kinetics of Carbon Monolith Boosting Ultrafast Na‐Storage

“…A sharp drop below 0.5 until 0.1 is attributed to the fact that Na + must overcome a coulomb repulsion of the existing Na + in the electrode. The better ionic conductivity of TCM is due to the better coverage of electrode/electrolyte and shorter ion diffusion distance promoted by the ultrasmall tin nanoparticles (<5 nm), which is also consistent with the electrochemical impedance results of in situ EIS in Figure c,d …”

Fullerene C76: An Unexplored Superior Electrode Material with Wide Operating Potential Window for High‐Performance Supercapacitors

“…Consequently, fullerenes have been used to enhance the performance of Li‐ion batteries and supercapacitor devices. Specifically, C 60 was incorporated in Li‐ion batteries to enhance their performance and stability . The addition of C 60 to graphene sheets provided extra acceptor states that enhanced the charge transfer in the electrodes .…”

Fullerenes for rechargeable battery applications: Recent developments and future perspectives

“…Apart from being used as anode materials, recent research shows that fullerene-based materials can play other roles in LIBs, such as coating and electrolyte additives. For example, through plasma-assisted thermal evaporation technology, the Lee group developed polymerized C 60 as a protective coating layer on Si anodes [61][62][63], LiCoO 2 (LCO) cathodes [64], and Sn alloy anodes [65,66]. Typically, polymerized C 60 -coated LCO [64] can significantly enhance interfacial stability and provide a rapid Li + diffusion pathway, thereby showing improved capacity retention and superior CE within a high-voltage window (3-4.5 V, Fig.…”