High capacity Li-ion battery anodes: Impact of crystallite size, surface chemistry and PEG-coating. (10th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Minnici, Krysten; Kwon, Yo Han; Huie, Matthew M.; de Simon, Mark V.; Zhang, Bingjie; Bock, David C.; Wang, Jiajun; Wang, Jun; Takeuchi, Kenneth J.; Takeuchi, Esther S.; Marschilok, Amy C.; Reichmanis, Elsa
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 260(2018)
• Page Start: 235
• Page End: 245
• Publication Date: 2018-01-10
• Subjects: Fe3O4 -- Magnetite -- Poly[3-(potassium-4-butanoate) thiophene] -- Poly(thiophene) -- Binders; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.12.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: Battery electrodes are complex mesoscale systems comprised of an active material, conductive agent, current collector, and polymeric binder. Previous work showed that introduction of poly [3-(potassium-4-butanoate) thiophene] (PPBT) as a binder component coupled with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface coating on magnetite (Fe3 O4 ) nanoparticles enhanced electron and ion transport in the high capacity anode system. Here, the impact of Fe3 O4 crystallite size (10 nm vs. 20 nm) and surface chemistry were explored to evaluate their effects on interfacial interactions within the composite PEG/PPBT based electrodes and resultant battery performance. The Fe3 O4 synthesis methods inevitably lead to differences in surface chemistry. For instance, the Fe3 O4 particles synthesized using ammonium hydroxide appeared more dispersed, and afforded improved rate capability performance. Notably, chemical interactions between the active nanoparticles and PPBT binder were only seen with particles synthesized using triethylamine. Capacity retention and cycling performance were unaffected. This study provides fundamental insights into the significant impact of active material synthesis on the design and fabrication of composite battery electrodes.