Mechanically Robust Self‐Organized Crack‐Free Nanocellular Graphene with Outstanding Electrochemical Properties in Sodium Ion Battery

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2024-05, Vol.36 (21), p.e2311792-n/a
• Main Authors: Park, Wong‐Young, Han, Jiuhui, Moon, Jongun, Joo, Soo‐Hyun, Wada, Takeshi, Ichikawa, Yuji, Ogawa, Kazuhiro, Kim, Hyoung Seop, Chen, Mingwei, Kato, Hidemi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: crack‐free; Electrical resistivity; Electrochemical analysis; Graphene; liquid metal dealloying; Liquid metals; multifunctional; nanocellular graphene; Robustness; Sodium-ion batteries; Tensile strength
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311792

Crack‐free nanocellular graphenes are attractive materials with extraordinary mechanical and electrochemical properties, but their homogeneous synthesis on the centimeter scale is challenging. Here, a strong nanocellular graphene film achieved by the self‐organization of carbon atoms using liquid metal dealloying and employing a defect‐free amorphous precursor is reported. This study demonstrates that a Bi melt strongly catalyzes the self‐structuring of graphene layers at low processing temperatures. The robust nanoarchitectured graphene displays a high‐genus seamless framework and exhibits remarkable tensile strength (34.8 MPa) and high electrical conductivity (1.6 × 104 S m−1). This unique material has excellent potential for flexible and high‐rate sodium‐ion battery applications. A novel crack‐free nanocellular graphene is developed by liquid metal dealloying. The defect‐free nature of the precursor leads to the self‐organization of nanocellular carbons without cracks, and offers an exceptional combination of high tensile strength, good electrical conductivity, and high specific surface area. Multifunctionality of this unique graphene material enhances the rate and cycle performance of Na‐ion batteries.