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Storage of Lithium in Hydrothermally Synthesized GeO2 Nanoparticles
Yong-Mao Lin1, Kyle C Klavetter1, Adam Heller1
1†McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, §Center for Electrochemistry, and ⊥Texas Materials Institute and Center for Nano- and Molecular Science, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C0400 Austin, Texas 78712-0231, United States.
Abstract:
Amorphous GeO2 nanoparticles were prepared via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal process. The effect of the reaction temperature and the surfactant concentration on the morphology of GeO2 particles were investigated. Particles of less than 300 nm were obtained when using 1,2-diaminopropane surfactant in a synthesis carried out at 180(◦)C. The synthesized germanium oxide nanoparticles were evaluated for their utility as the active anode material in Li-ion batteries. The electrode prepared with this material exhibited a stable capacity ∼600 mAh g(-1) at 0.2 C rate for up to 150 cycles in a conventional electrolyte containing ethylene carbonate (EC). The cyclability of the GeO2 nanoparticle electrode was further improved by using a fluorinated ethylene carbonate (FEC) based electrolyte, which showed capacities greater than 600 mAh g(-1) and retained more than 96% of their capacity after 500 cycles at 0.2 C rate. The effect of different electrolyte systems was studied by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electron microscopy.
