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Microwave-Assisted Coal-Derived Few-Layer Graphene as an Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Faridul Islam1, Jialong Wang2, Arash Tahmasebi1
1Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 13, 2021
Summary
This study synthesized few-layer graphene from coal using microwave heating and a dual catalyst, creating an efficient anode material for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity and stability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing cost-effective and high-performance anode materials is crucial for advancing lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology.
- Graphene-based materials offer excellent electrical conductivity and large surface area, making them promising for energy storage applications.
- Utilizing abundant low-cost resources like coal for advanced material synthesis presents a sustainable approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize few-layer graphene (FLG) from bituminous coal using a microwave-assisted catalytic graphitization process.
- To investigate the structural and electrochemical properties of the synthesized FLG.
- To evaluate the potential of coal-derived FLG as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.
Main Methods:
- Microwave-assisted catalytic graphitization using a dual Fe-Ni catalyst.
- Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
- Electrochemical performance testing for lithium-ion battery anode applications, including capacity, Coulombic efficiency, and cycle stability.
Main Results:
- Few-layer graphene (FLG) with a high degree of graphitization was successfully synthesized from coal.
- The S5% Fe-Ni dual catalyst yielded FLG with 2-7 graphitic layers, promoting fast lithium-ion diffusion.
- The FLG anode exhibited a high reversible capacity of 287.91 mAhg-1 at 0.1 C with 99.9% Coulombic efficiency and 95% capacity retention after 100 cycles.
Conclusions:
- Coal-derived FLG synthesized via microwave-assisted catalytic graphitization is a viable and cost-effective anode material for LIBs.
- The dual Fe-Ni catalyst significantly enhances the structural and electrochemical properties of the graphene.
- This research demonstrates a sustainable pathway for producing advanced battery materials from abundant coal resources.
