EE235 Nanofabrication

John Gerling

4-7-08

High-performance lithium battery anodes using silicon nanowires

Lithium Ion Battery Basics Electrochemical performance is determined by properties of the anode

and cathode materials. Currently, carbon is used as the anode material.

Charge battery (lithiation): large volume expansion 200-400% LiM Discharge battery (delithiation): volume contraction

xLi+ + xe- + M ↔ charge Lix+M-

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

Li Ion

Li Ion Discharge

Charge

Silicon NW Anode Graphitized carbon (LiC6) – 372

mAh/g

Silicon (Li22 Si5) – 4200 mAh/g (10x improvement!)

Silicon film gets pulverized from volume changes. Si NW can accommodate volume change.

Si NW Anode Advantages:1) Small NW diameter allows for

better accommodation of large volume changes.

2) All NW contribute to the capacity. 3) Direct 1D electronic pathways for

efficient charge transport.4) No need for binders (extra weight

eliminated).

Fabrication and Measurement Si NWs were synthesized using the VLS process on stainless

steel substrates using Au catalyst.

The electrochemical properties were evaluated under an argon atmosphere by both cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling in a three electrode configuration, with the Si NWs on the stainless steel substrate as the working electrode and Li foil as both reference and counter-electrodes.

Silicon NW Anode ResultsPeaks related to LiX formation and decomposition, the larger the peak, the larger the increase in formation and decomposition.

Morphology Changes in Si NW

Structural Evolution

Comments and Conclusion

Only 10-20 cycles were performed. Lithium-ion batteries typically have 1000 cycles. More needed here.

100% charge capacity achieved. 75% capacity discharge. Irreversible capacity loss after first cycle. What is the efficiency of Li-ion batteries now? Wikipedia quotes 99%.