Graphene Aerogels with Anchored Sub-Micrometer Mulberry-Like ZnO Particles for High-Rate and Long-Cycle Anode Materials in Lithium Ion Batteries

Lishuang Fan; Yu Zhang; Qi Zhang; Xian Wu; Junhan Cheng; Naiqing Zhang; Yujie Feng; Kening Sun

doi:10.1002/smll.201601817

Graphene Aerogels with Anchored Sub-Micrometer Mulberry-Like ZnO Particles for High-Rate and Long-Cycle Anode Materials in Lithium Ion Batteries

Small. 2016 Oct;12(37):5208-5216. doi: 10.1002/smll.201601817. Epub 2016 Aug 12.

Authors

Lishuang Fan¹, Yu Zhang², Qi Zhang², Xian Wu², Junhan Cheng², Naiqing Zhang³, Yujie Feng⁴, Kening Sun⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Academy of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 Xidazhi Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
² School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 Xidazhi Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Academy of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 Xidazhi Street, Harbin, 150001, China. znqmww@163.com.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 Xidazhi Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Academy of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 Xidazhi Street, Harbin, 150001, China. keningsunhit@126.com.

PMID: 27515914
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201601817

Abstract

Graphene aerogels (GAs) anchoring hierarchical, mulberry-like ZnO particles are fabricated in situ using a one-step solvothermal reaction. The resulting composites can function as anodes in lithium ion batteries, where they exhibit a high capacity and cyclic stability. The reversible capacities obtained are 365, 320, and 230 mA h g^-1 at current densities of 1, 2, and 10 A g^-1 . Their high reversible capacity is 445 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 1.6 A g^-1 ; this value is maintained even after the 500th cycle, The excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to strong oxygen bridges between ZnO and graphene, where C-O-Zn linkages provide a good pathway for electron transport during charge/discharge cycles. Additionally, the hierarchical structure of the ZnO microballs suppresses stacking among the graphene layers, allowing the GAs to accelerate the transport of lithium ions. Furthermore, the GA framework enhances the electrical conductivity and buffer any volume expansion.

Keywords: electrode materials; energy materials; graphene aerogels; hierarchical structures; lithium ion batteries.