• Nano
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1850141.1-1850141.11
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• 2018

Sodium ion batteries based on the more sodium source reserve than that of lithium have been designed as promising alternatives to lithium ion batteries. However, several problems including unsatisfied specific capacity and serious cyclic stability must be solved before the reality. One of the effective approaches to solve the abovementioned problems is to search for suitable anode materials. In this work, we designed and prepared $FeSe_2$ nanoflakes via a simple hydrothermal method which can be adjusted in composition by Fe precursor. As a potential anode for sodium storage, the optimized $FeSe_2$ electrode was further evaluated in different electrolytes of $NaClO_4$ in propylene carbonate/fluoroethylene carbonate and $NaCF_3SO_3$ in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The capacity was about $470mAh\;g^{-1}$ and $535mAh\;g^{-1}$ at $0.5A\;g^{-1}$, respectively, in the voltage between 0.5 V and 2.9 V in the cycle of stabilization phase. Superior performance both in capacity and in stability was obtained in ether-based electrolyte, which affords the property without plugging the intermediates of transition metal dichalcogenides during charge/discharge processes.

• Electronic Materials Letters
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.755-765
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• 2018

In situ nitrogen doped hard carbon nanotubes (NHCNT) were fabricated by pyrolyzing tubular nitrogen doped conjugated microporous polymer. KOH activated NHCNT (K-NHCNT) were also prepared to improve their porous structure. XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, XPS, Raman spectra, $N_2$ adsorption-desorption, galvanostatic charging-discharge, cyclic voltammetry and EIS were used to characterize the structure and performance of NHCNT and K-NHCNT. XRD and Raman spectra reveal K-NHCNT own a more disorder carbon. SEM indicate that the diameters of K-NHCNT are smaller than that of NHCNT. TEM and EDS further indicate that K-NHCNT are hollow carbon nanotubes with nitrogen uniformly distributed. $N_2$ adsorption-desorption analysis reveals that K-NHCNT have an ultra high specific surface area of $1787.37m^2g^{-1}$, which is much larger than that of NHCNT ($531.98m^2g^{-1}$). K-NHCNT delivers a high reversible capacity of $918mAh\;g^{-1}$ at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$. Even after 350 times cycling, the capacity of K-NHCNT cycled after 350 cycles at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$ is still as high as $591.6mAh\;g^{-1}$. Such outstanding electrochemical performance of the K-NHCNT are clearly attributed by its superior characters, which have great advantages over those commercial available carbon nanotubes ($200-450mAh\;g^{-1}$) not only for its desired electrochemical performance but also for its easily and scaling-up preparation.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2019

Layered $LiNi_{0.83}Co_{0.11}Mn_{0.06}O_2$ cathode materials single- and dual-doped by the rare-earth elements Ce and Nd are successfully fabricated by using a coprecipitation-assisted solid-phase method. For comparison purposes, non-doping pristine $LiNi_{0.83}Co_{0.11}Mn_{0.06}O_2$ cathode material is also prepared using the same method. The crystal structure, morphology, and electrochemical performances are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) mapping, and electrochemical techniques. The XRD data demonstrates that all prepared samples maintain a typical ${\alpha}-NaFeO_2$-layered structure with the R-3m space group, and that the doped samples with Ce and/or Nd have lower cation mixing than that of pristine samples without doping. The results of SEM and EDS show that doped elements are uniformly distributed in all samples. The electrochemical performances of all doped samples are better than those of pristine samples without doping. In addition, the Ce/Nd dual-doped cathode material shows the best cycling performance and the least capacity loss. At a 10 C-rate, the electrodes of Ce/Nd dual-doped cathode material exhibit good capacity retention of 72.7, 58.5, and 45.2% after 100, 200, and 300 cycles, respectively, compared to those of pristine samples without doping (24.4, 11.1, and 8.0%).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.61-67
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• 2018

As emerging the new electric devices, the commercial lithium ion batteries have faced with various challenges. In this regard, many efforts to solve challenges have been tried. In order to solve the above problems in terms of development of a new secondary battery, we successfully demonstrated the two electrocatalysts, such as MCWB and PPY hydrogel, PPY hydrogel and MCWB showed typical H3-type BET isotherm, indicating that micro- and mesopores existed. Especially, in terms of voltage efficiency at the first cycle, PPY hydrogel was higher than that of MCWB, but lower than that of PtC. More interestingly, the PPY hygrogel based seawater battery exhibited charge-discharge reversibility during 20 cycles, and the voltage efficiencies ranged from 70.32 % to 77.35 % in cyclic performance test.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.798-803
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• 2018

In order to use Si as an anode material for lithium-ion battery, the particle size was controlled to less than $0.5{\mu}m$ and carbon was coated on the surface with the thickness less than 10 nm. The carbon fiber was grown on the Si surface with 50~150 wt%, and the carbon coating was carried out once again. The Si composite material was mixed with dissimilar metals to increase the conductivity, and graphite was mixed to improve cyclic life characteristics. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of composite materials were measured with XRD, SEM, TEM and coin cell. The discharge capacity of Si/PC/CNF/PC was lower than that of Si/PC (Pyrolytic Carbon)/CNF (Carbon Nano Fiber). However, the cyclic life of Si/PC/CNF/PC was higher. Initial discharge capacity of 1512 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C rate and initial efficiency of 78% were shown. It also showed a capacity retention of 94% in 10 cycles.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.262-267
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• 2010

$LiNi_{1-x}Mg_xO_2$(x=0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1) samples were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure was analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement. $LiNi_{1-x}Mg_xO_2$samples give single phases of hexagonal layered structures with a space group of R-3m. The calculated cation-anion distances and angles from the Rietveld refinement were changed with Mg contents in $LiNi_{1-x}Mg_xO_2$. The thicknesses of $NiO_2$ slabs were increased and the distances between the $NiO_2$ slabs were decreased with the increase in Mg contents in the samples. The electrical conductivities of sintered $LiNi_{1-x}Mg_xO_2$ samples were around $10^{-2}$ S/cm at room temperature. The electrochemical performances of $LiNi_{1-x}Mg_xO_2$were evaluated by coin cell test. Compared to $LiNiO_2$, $LiNi_{0.95}Mg_{0.05}O_2$ exhibited improved high-rate capability and cyclability due to the well-ordered layered structure by doping of Mg ion.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

The smelting reduction of spent lithium-ion batteries results in metallic alloys of cobalt, nickel, and copper. To develop a process to separate the metallic alloys, leaching of the metallic mixtures of these three metals with H₂SO₄ solution containing 3% H₂O₂ dissolved all the cobalt and nickel, together with 9.6% of the copper. Cyanex 301 selectively extracted Cu(II) from the leaching solution, and copper ions were completely stripped with 30% aqua regia. Selective extraction of Co(II) from a Cu(II)-free raffinate was possible using the ionic liquid ALi-SCN. Three-stage cross-current stripping of the loaded ALi-SCN by a 15% NH₃ solution resulted in the complete stripping of Co(II). A process was proposed to separate the three metal ions from the sulfuric acid leaching solutions of metallic mixtures by employing solvent extraction.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.59-66
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• 2022

To investigate the rate-determining step of nickel, cobalt and copper electrowinning, experiments were conducted by varying the electrolyte temperature and agitation speed using a rotating disc electrode. Analyzing the rate-determining step by calculating the activation energy in the electrowinning process, it was found that nickel electrowinning is controlled by a mixed mechanism (partly by chemical reaction and partly by mass transport), cobalt is controlled by chemical reaction, and copper is controlled by mass transfer. Electrowinning of nickel, cobalt and copper was performed by varying the electrolyte temperature and agitation speed, and the comparison of the current efficiencies was used the determine the rate-determining step.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2023

Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃(LATP) is considered a promising material for all-solid-state lithium batteries owing to its high moisture stability, wide potential window (~6 V), and relatively high ion conductivity (10^-3-10^-4 S/cm). Solid electrolytes based on LATP are manufactured via sintering, using LATP powder as the starting material. The properties of the starting materials depend on the synthesis conditions, which affect the microstructure and ionic conductivity of the solid electrolytes. In this study, we synthesize the LATP powder using sol-gel and co-precipitation methods and characterize the physical properties of powder, such as size, shape, and crystallinity. In addition, we have prepared a disc-shaped LATP solid electrolyte using LATP powder as the starting material. In addition, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements are conducted to analyze the grain size, microstructures, and ion conduction properties. These results indicate that the synthesis conditions of the powder are a crucial factor in creating microstructures and affecting the conduction properties of lithium ions in solid electrolytes.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.919-926
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• 2023

To analyze the cause of the destruction of thin, carbon-backed lithium fluoride targets during a measurement of the fusion of ⁷Li and ¹⁷O, we estimate theoretically the lifetimes of carbon and LiF films due to sputtering, thermal evaporation, and lattice damage and compare them with the lifetime observed in the experiment. Sputtering yields and thermal evaporation rates in carbon and LiF films are too low to play significant roles in the destruction of the targets. We estimate the lifetime of the target due to lattice damage of the carbon backing and the LiF film using a previously reported model. In the experiment, elastically scattered target and beam ions were detected by surface silicon barrier (SSB) detectors so that the product of the beam flux and the target density could be monitored during the experiment. The areas of the targets exposed to different beam intensities and fluences were degraded and then perforated, forming holes with a diameter around the beam spot size. Overall, the target thickness tends to decrease linearly as a function of the beam fluence. However, the thickness also exhibits an increasing interval after SSB counts per beam ion decreases linearly, extending the target lifetime. The lifetime of thin LiF film as determined by lattice damage is calculated for the first time using a lattice damage model, and the calculated lifetime agrees well with the observed target lifetime during the experiment. In experiments using a thin LiF target to induce nuclear reactions, this study suggests methods to predict the lifetime of the LiF film and arrange the experimental plan for maximum efficiency.