Cobalt nickel nitride coated by a thin carbon layer anchoring on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2018, Vol.6 (40), p.19853-19862
• Main Authors: Zou, Rujia, Xu, Mingdong, He, Shu-Ang, Han, Xiaoyu, Lin, Runjia, Cui, Zhe, He, Guanjie, Brett, Daniel J. L., Guo, Zheng Xiao, Hu, Junqing, Parkin, Ivan P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anchoring; Anodes; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Cobalt; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Expansion; Fabrication; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Metal ions; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Nickel; Nitrides; Nitrogen; Rechargeable batteries
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/C8TA08537D

Cobalt nickel nitrides coated by a thin carbon layer anchoring on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes, named NiCo 2 N@C–NCNT nanocomposites, were obtained by a facile fabrication method. The work reveals that the NiCo 2 N structures possess extensive Li + channels and high electrical conductivity for the rapid electron/ion transfer in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These materials were applied as anodes for the first time, and a nanobattery was constructed and examined using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) to directly verify the in situ structural evolution during lithiation/delithiation processes. The results show a small dimensional expansion of the NiCo 2 N@C–NCNT nanocomposites during the lithiation process; this is due to the disciform expansion of the lithiated NiCo 2 N nanoparticles which cover the surface of the NCNTs. It was found that some of the lithiated NiCo 2 N nanoparticles moved along the surface of the NCNTs and entered the NCNTs – thus acting to ‘protect’ themselves. Moreover, electrodes composed of interconnected NCNTs alleviate the volumetric expansion of NiCo 2 N@C–NCNT nanocomposites. The NiCo 2 N@C–NCNT nanocomposite electrode exhibits excellent lithium storage properties in electrochemical tests in coin cell configurations. This material synthesis route and ‘self-protection’ mechanism provide the basis of a design strategy for developing effective electrode materials in LIBs and a broader sphere of metal-ion batteries.