Novel approach toward a binder-free and current collector-free anode configuration: highly flexible nanoporous carbon nanotube electrodes with strong mechanical strength harvesting improved lithium storage

In this work, we developed a novel flexible nanoporous carbon nanotube film to use as a binder-free and current collector-free anode electrode for lithium ion batteries, providing a new approach to flexible energy devices. The proposed novel anode configuration shows better cycling performance and rate capability than the conventional electrode architecture. Moreover, this unique configuration exhibits good flexibility and robust mechanical strength, which has the potential to be applied to flexible lithium ion batteries. Our findings may provide a new anode configuration for lithium ion batteries with improved cycling stability and rate capability.

[1]  T. Ebbesen,et al.  Exceptionally high Young's modulus observed for individual carbon nanotubes , 1996, Nature.

[2]  X. Liao,et al.  A quenchable superhard carbon phase synthesized by cold compression of carbon nanotubes. , 2004, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[3]  T. R. Jow,et al.  Study of poly(acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate) as binder for graphite anode and LiMn2O4 cathode of Li-ion batteries , 2002 .

[4]  Xifei Li,et al.  Significantly increased cycling performance of novel “self-matrix” NiSnO3 anode in lithium ion battery application , 2012 .

[5]  Chunlei Wang,et al.  Nanoporous tree-like SiO2 films fabricated by sol–gel assisted electrostatic spray deposition , 2012 .

[6]  Esther S. Takeuchi,et al.  Carbon nanotube substrate electrodes for lightweight, long-life rechargeable batteries , 2011 .

[7]  Qin Xin,et al.  Preparation and Characterization of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Supported Platinum for Cathode Catalysts of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2003 .

[8]  Michael Holzapfel,et al.  High Rate Capability of Graphite Negative Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries , 2005 .

[9]  Xifei Li,et al.  Novel method to enhance the cycling performance of spinel LiMn2O4 , 2007 .

[10]  Jun Chen,et al.  Nest‐like Silicon Nanospheres for High‐Capacity Lithium Storage , 2007 .

[11]  Yin Zhang,et al.  Highly aligned carbon nanotube forests coated by superconducting NbC. , 2011, Nature communications.

[12]  J. Ramos-Barrado,et al.  Electrodeposition of Cu2 O : An Excellent Method for Obtaining Films of Controlled Morphology and Good Performance in Li-Ion Batteries , 2005 .

[13]  B. Landi,et al.  High energy density lithium-ion batteries with carbon nanotube anodes , 2010 .

[14]  Haiping Fang,et al.  Intercalation and diffusion of lithium ions in a carbon nanotube bundle by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations , 2011 .

[15]  M. Peckerar,et al.  A novel high energy density flexible galvanic cell , 2011 .

[16]  Jaephil Cho,et al.  Superior lithium electroactive mesoporous Si@carbon core-shell nanowires for lithium battery anode material. , 2008, Nano letters.

[17]  Ji-Won Choi,et al.  Issue and challenges facing rechargeable thin film lithium batteries , 2008 .

[18]  R. Li,et al.  Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes with tunable structure and high yield produced by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis , 2011 .

[19]  T. Takamura,et al.  Li insertion/extraction reaction at a Si film evaporated on a Ni foil , 2003 .

[20]  Un Jeong Kim,et al.  Raman and IR spectroscopy of chemically processed single-walled carbon nanotubes. , 2005, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[21]  F. Du,et al.  Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube Arrays with High Electrocatalytic Activity for Oxygen Reduction , 2009, Science.

[22]  W. D. de Heer,et al.  Carbon Nanotubes--the Route Toward Applications , 2002, Science.

[23]  Dawei Liu,et al.  Engineering nanostructured electrodes and fabrication of film electrodes for efficient lithium ion intercalation , 2010 .

[24]  P. Mohanty,et al.  Binder free, porous and nanostructured Co3O4 anode for Li-ion batteries from solution precursor plasma deposition , 2012 .

[25]  Bingqing Wei,et al.  Long‐Cycle Electrochemical Behavior of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized on Stainless Steel in Li Ion Batteries , 2009 .

[26]  V. Pol,et al.  Spherical carbon particles and carbon nanotubes prepared by autogenic reactions: Evaluation as anodes in lithium electrochemical cells , 2011 .

[27]  W. Hsu,et al.  Electrochemical Li Insertion in B-Doped Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes , 2002 .

[28]  Wonbong Choi,et al.  Ultrathin alumina-coated carbon nanotubes as an anode for high capacity Li-ion batteries , 2011 .

[29]  Tsutomu Miyasaka,et al.  Tin-Based Amorphous Oxide: A High-Capacity Lithium-Ion-Storage Material , 1997 .

[30]  M. T. Martínez,et al.  Surfactant-free assembling of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube buckypapers , 2010 .

[31]  Song Jin,et al.  Nanostructured silicon for high capacity lithium battery anodes , 2011 .

[32]  R. Li,et al.  High concentration nitrogen doped carbon nanotube anodes with superior Li + storage performance for lithium rechargeable battery application , 2012 .

[33]  K. Yoshino,et al.  Well-aligned polyaniline/carbon-nanotube composite films grown by in-situ aniline polymerization , 2003 .

[34]  Candace K. Chan,et al.  High-performance lithium battery anodes using silicon nanowires. , 2008, Nature nanotechnology.

[35]  R. Li,et al.  Tin Oxide with Controlled Morphology and Crystallinity by Atomic Layer Deposition onto Graphene Nanosheets for Enhanced Lithium Storage , 2012 .

[36]  K. Striebel,et al.  Electrochemical Studies of Nanoncrystalline Mg2Si Thin Film Electrodes Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition , 2003 .

[37]  J. Tu,et al.  Electrochemical properties of NiO–Ni nanocomposite as anode material for lithium ion batteries , 2006 .

[38]  Huakun Liu,et al.  Highly flexible and bendable free-standing thin film polymer for battery application , 2009 .

[39]  D. Gozzi,et al.  Multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with titanium nanoparticles: synthesis and characterization , 2007 .

[40]  G. Yushin,et al.  High-performance lithium-ion anodes using a hierarchical bottom-up approach. , 2010, Nature materials.

[41]  Hongjie Dai,et al.  Carbon nanotubes: opportunities and challenges , 2002 .

[42]  Jun Chen,et al.  Flexible free-standing carbon nanotube films for model lithium-ion batteries , 2009 .

[43]  Weixiang Chen,et al.  The nanocomposites of carbon nanotube with Sb and SnSb0.5 as Li-ion battery anodes , 2003 .

[44]  Yuki Yamada,et al.  Self-standing positive electrodes of oxidized few-walled carbon nanotubes for light-weight and high-power lithium batteries , 2012 .

[45]  Weiguo Song,et al.  Tin‐Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Elastic Hollow Carbon Spheres for High‐Performance Anode Material in Lithium‐Ion Batteries , 2008 .

[46]  P. Kumta,et al.  High Capacity, Reversible Silicon Thin-Film Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries , 2003 .

[47]  Hao Zhang,et al.  Carbon nanotube arrays and their composites for electrochemical capacitors and lithium-ion batteries , 2009 .

[48]  Chunjoong Kim,et al.  Electrochemical performance of amorphous-silicon thin films for lithium rechargeable batteries , 2006 .

[49]  Ryne P. Raffaelle,et al.  Carbon nanotubes for lithium ion batteries , 2009 .

[50]  M. Whittingham,et al.  Lithium batteries and cathode materials. , 2004, Chemical reviews.

[51]  Z. Wang,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of large area well-aligned carbon nanotubes by ECR-CVD without substrate bias , 2005 .

[52]  Sarah L. Frisco,et al.  Hybrid Germanium Nanoparticle–Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Free-Standing Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries , 2011 .

[53]  Dong-Hwa Seo,et al.  Flexible energy storage devices based on graphene paper , 2011 .

[54]  Jun Chen,et al.  Carbon nanotube network modified carbon fibre paper for Li-ion batteries , 2009 .

[55]  S. Iijima.  Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon , 1991, Nature.

[56]  Xifei Li,et al.  Three‐Dimensional Porous Core‐Shell Sn@Carbon Composite Anodes for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Battery Applications , 2012 .

[57]  Young Hee Lee,et al.  Crystalline Ropes of Metallic Carbon Nanotubes , 1996, Science.

[58]  R. Li,et al.  Superior cycle stability of nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets as anodes for lithium ion batteries , 2011 .