Metal Oxides and Oxysalts as Anode Materials for Li Ion Batteries

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received huge attention in the last years as promising porous materials with unrivalled degree of tunability for a wide range of applications including gas storage or separation, catalysis, drug delivery and imaging. The present review appraises the application of MOFs in the field of electrochemistry. From materials for rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells to electrocatalysis or corrosion inhibition, MOFs or MOF-derived materials are gaining momentum in this field. For real breakthroughs, combining their electrochemical properties with appropriate electronic and ionic conductivity will be required.

Metal organic frameworks for electrochemical applications

Hierarchically porous carbon-coated ZnO quantum dots (QDs) (∼3.5 nm) were synthesized by a one-step controlled pyrolysis of the metal–organic framework IRMOF-1. We have demonstrated a scalable and facile synthesis of carbon-coated ZnO QDs without agglomeration by structural reorganization. This unique microstructure exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance (capacity, cyclability, and rate capability) when evaluated as an anode material for lithium ion batteries.

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Preparation and Exceptional Lithium Anodic Performance of Porous Carbon-Coated ZnO Quantum Dots Derived from a Metal–Organic Framework

Manganites of transition and/or post-transition metals, AMn2O4 (where A was Co, Ni or Zn), were synthesized by a simple and easily scalable co-precipitation route and were evaluated as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. The obtained powders were characterized by SEM, TEM, and XRD techniques. Battery cycling showed that ZnMn2O4 exhibited the best performance (discharge capacity, cycling, and rate capability) compared to the two other manganites and their corresponding simple oxides. Further studies on the effect of different sintering temperatures (from 400 to 1000 °C) on particle size were performed, and it is found that the size of the particles had a significant effect on the performance of the batteries. The optimum particle size for ZnMn2O4 is found to be 75–150 nm. In addition, the use of water-soluble and environmentally friendly binders, such as lithium and sodium salts of carboxymethlycellulose, greatly improved the performance of the batteries compared to the conventional binder, PVDF. Finally, ZnMn2O4 powder sintered at 800 °C (<150 nm) and the use of the in-house synthesized lithium salt of carboxymethlycellulose (LiCMC) binder gave the best battery performance: a capacity of 690 mA h g−1 (3450 mA h mL−1) at C/10, along with good rate capability and excellent capacity retention (88%).

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High capacity anode materials for Li-ion batteries based on spinel metal oxides AMn2O4 (A = Co, Ni, and Zn)

The performance of the lithium-ion cell is heavily dependent on the ability of the host electrodes to accommodate and release Li+ ions from the local structure. While the choice of electrode materials may define parameters such as cell potential and capacity, the process of intercalation may be physically limited by the rate of solid-state Li+ diffusion. Increased diffusion rates in lithium-ion electrodes may be achieved through a reduction in the diffusion path, accomplished by a scaling of the respective electrode dimensions. In addition, some electrodes may undergo large volume changes associated with charging and discharging, the strain of which, may be better accommodated through nanostructuring. Failure of the host to accommodate such volume changes may lead to pulverisation of the local structure and a rapid loss of capacity. In this review article, we seek to highlight a number of significant gains in the development of nanostructured lithium-ion battery architectures (both anode and cathode), as drivers of potential next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices.

Yuexiang Cheng

Papers

Evaluation of ZnO nanorod arrays with dandelion-like morphology as negative electrodes for lithium-ion batteries