Encapsulating lithium at the microscale: selective deposition in carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride spheres

Yu Jin Hong; Siwon Lee; Sungho Choi; Do Youb Kim; San Moon; Se-Hee Kim; Jungdon Suk; Won Bin Im; Mihye Wu

doi:10.1088/1361-6528/acdf64

Encapsulating lithium at the microscale: selective deposition in carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride spheres

Nanotechnology. 2023 Aug 21;34(45). doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/acdf64.

Authors

Yu Jin Hong^{1

2}, Siwon Lee¹, Sungho Choi¹, Do Youb Kim¹, San Moon¹, Se-Hee Kim¹, Jungdon Suk¹, Won Bin Im², Mihye Wu¹

Affiliations

¹ Advanced Materials Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 37336197
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/acdf64

Abstract

For stable lithium deposition without dendrites, three-dimensional (3D) porous structure has been intensively investigated. Here, we report the use of carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride (C-doped g-C₃N₄) microspheres as a 3D host for lithium to suppress dendrite formation, which is crucial for stable lithium deposition. The C-doped g-C₃N₄microspheres have a high surface area and porosity, allowing for efficient lithium accommodation with high accessibility. The carbon-doping of the g-C₃N₄microspheres confers lithiophilic properties, which facilitate the regulation of Li⁺flux and dense filling of cavities with nucleated lithium, thereby preventing volume expansion and promoting dendrite-free Li deposition. The electrochemical performance was improved with cyclic stability and high Coulombic efficiency over 260 cycles at 1.0 mA cm^-2for 1.0 mAh cm^-2, and even over 70 cycles at 5.0 mA cm^-2for 3.0 mAh cm^-2. The use of C-doped g-C₃N₄microspheres as a 3D Li host shows promising results for stable lithium deposition without dendrite formation.

Keywords: carbon-doping; dendrite-free; graphitic carbon nitride; lithium metal battery; porous microspheres.