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Electrospun core-shell fibers for robust silicon nanoparticle-based lithium ion battery anodes
Tae Hoon Hwang1, Yong Min Lee, Byung-Seon Kong
1Graduate School of EEWS (WCU), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Guseong Dong, Yuseong Gu, Daejon 305-701, Korea.
Nano Letters
|December 31, 2011
Summary
Silicon anodes offer high capacity for lithium-ion batteries but face challenges. This study developed scalable core-shell fiber electrodes using electrospinning, significantly improving silicon anode performance and cycle life for energy storage applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Silicon anodes possess theoretical capacities ~10x greater than graphite, making them promising for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and grid storage.
- Key challenges for silicon anodes include short cycle life and difficulties in scalable electrode fabrication.
- Volume expansion during lithiation/delithiation leads to pulverization and unstable interfaces, hindering practical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scalable method for fabricating robust silicon-based anode electrodes.
- To address the limitations of silicon anodes, including poor cycle life and electrode instability.
- To create a novel core-shell fiber structure for enhanced lithium-ion battery performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a dual-nozzle electrospinning process for scalable production of core-shell fiber electrodes.
- Fabricated fibers with commercially available silicon nanoparticles encapsulated within a carbon shell.
- Investigated the structural benefits of the core-shell design for mitigating silicon anode issues.
Main Results:
- Achieved a high gravimetric capacity of 1384 mAh/g with the core-shell silicon anode.
- Demonstrated excellent rate capability, retaining 721 mAh/g at a 5-minute discharge rate.
- Exhibited remarkable cycle stability over 300 cycles with negligible capacity fade.
Conclusions:
- The electrospun core-shell fiber structure effectively resolves silicon anode issues like pulverization and unstable interfaces.
- This approach offers a new design principle for robust, scalable, and high-performance lithium battery electrodes.
- The developed technology shows significant potential for large-scale energy storage applications.
