Synthesis and electrochemical performance of mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–carbon nanofibers composite as anode materials for lithium secondary batteries

• Published in: Materials research bulletin 2016-10, Vol.82
• Main Authors: Hyun, Yura, Choi, Jin-Yeong, Park, Heai-Ku, Bae, Jae Young, Lee, Chang-Seop
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ANODES; CARBON; CARBON FIBERS; CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION; COMPOSITE MATERIALS; COPPER; ELECTRIC BATTERIES; ELECTROCHEMISTRY; ETHYLENE; FOAMS; IRON; LITHIUM; MATERIALS SCIENCE; NANOFIBERS; NICKEL; QUARTZ; RETENTION; SILICON OXIDES; SOL-GEL PROCESS; SURFACE PROPERTIES; SYNTHESIS
• ISSN: 0025-5408; 1873-4227
• DOI: 10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2016.03.006

Highlights: • Mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–carbon nanofibers composite synthesized on Ni foam without any binder. • This composite was directly applied as anode material of Li secondary batteries. • Showed the highest initial (2420 mAh/g) and discharging (2092 mAh/g) capacity. • This material achieved a retention rate of 86.4% after 30 cycles. - Abstract: In this study, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–carbon nanofibers composite were synthesized and applied as the anode materials in lithium secondary batteries. CNFs and mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–CNFs composite were grown via chemical vapor deposition method with iron-copper catalysts. Mesoporous SiO{sub 2} materials were prepared by sol–gel method using tetraethylorthosilicate as the silica source and cetyltrimethylammoniumchloride as the template. Ethylene was used as the carbon source and passes into a quartz reactor of a tube furnace heated to 600 °C, and the temperature was maintained at 600 °C for 10 min to synthesize CNFs and mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–CNFs composite. The electrochemical characteristics of the as-prepared CNFs and mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–CNFs composite as the anode of lithium secondary batteries were investigated using a three-electrode cell. In particular, the mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–CNFs composites synthesized without binder after depositing mesoporous SiO{sub 2} on Ni foam showed the highest charging and discharging capacity and retention rate. The initial capacity (2420 mAh/g) of mesoporous SiO{sub 2}–CNFs composites decreased to 2092 mAh/g after 30 cycles at a retention rate of 86.4%.