Are Electrospun Carbon/Metal Oxide Composite Fibers Relevant Electrode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries?. Issue 14 (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pantò, Fabiola; Fan, Yafei; Frontera, Patrizia; Stelitano, Sara; Fazio, Enza; Patanè, Salvatore; Marelli, Marcello; Antonucci, Pierluigi; Neri, Fortunato; Pinna, Nicola; Santangelo, Saveria
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 163:Issue 14(2016)
• Page Start: A2930
• Page End: A2937
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0351614jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : Self-standing and flexible paper-like electrodes consisting of nano-sized Co3 O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped graphite-like carbon fibers are synthesized by electrospinning followed by thermal treatment. Several studies have recently reported that encapsulating nano-sized metal oxides that display conversion reaction, such as manganese, iron and cobalt oxides, within the three-dimensional network of electrospun carbon fibers allows to remarkably improve the performances of lithium-ion batteries. In the present work, we challenge these reports with a study based on the optimization of the preparation and post-synthesis treatment parameters, and a very precise characterization of the structural, morphological and chemical properties of the composite materials leading to clear structure-electrochemical properties correlations. In particular, it is found that the electrochemical properties of a physical mixture of cobalt oxide nanoparticles and electrospun carbon nanofibers are equivalent to the ones of the electrospun nanocomposites, proving that the benefit of electrospun metal oxide-carbon nanocomposites is limited and that the "enhanced properties" claimed in the literature arise from imprudent comparisons.