Constructing Al@C–Sn pellet anode without passivation layer for lithium-ion battery

Abstract

Al is considered as a promising lithium-ion battery (LIBs) anode materials owing to its high theoretical capacity and appropriate lithation/de-lithation potential. Unfortunately, its inevitable volume expansion causes the electrode structure instability, leading to poor cyclic stability. What’s worse, the natural Al₂O₃ layer on commercial Al pellets is always existed as a robust insulating barrier for electrons, which brings the voltage dip and results in low reversible capacity. Herein, this work synthesized core–shell Al@C–Sn pellets for LIBs by a plus-minus strategy. In this proposal, the natural Al₂O₃ passivation layer is eliminated when annealing the pre-introduced SnCl₂, meanwhile, polydopamine-derived carbon is introduced as dual functional shell to liberate the fresh Al core from re-oxidization and alleviate the volume swellings. Benefiting from the addition of C–Sn shell and the elimination of the Al₂O₃ passivation layer, the as-prepared Al@C–Sn pellet electrode exhibits little voltage dip and delivers a reversible capacity of 1018.7 mAh·g⁻¹ at 0.1 A·g⁻¹ and 295.0 mAh·g⁻¹ at 2.0 A·g⁻¹ (after 1000 cycles), respectively. Moreover, its diffusion-controlled capacity is muchly improved compared to those of its counterparts, confirming the well-designed nanostructure contributes to the rapid Li-ion diffusion and further enhances the lithium storage activity.

Keywords

lithium-ion battery / high-performance anode / aluminum / passivation layer / plus-minus strategy

References

[1] P. Shi, Z.H. Fu, M.Y. Zhou, et al., Inhibiting intercrystalline reactions of anode with electrolytes for long-cycling lithium batteries, Sci. Adv., 8(2022), No. 33, art. No. eabq3445.

[2] Zhang SC, Li SY, Lu YY. Designing safer lithium-based batteries with nonflammable electrolytes: A review. eScience, 2021, 1(2): 163.

[3] M.Q. Peng, K. Shin, L.X. Jiang, et al., Alloy-type anodes for high-performance rechargeable batteries, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 61(2022), No. 33, art. No. e202206770.

[4] Xie L, Zhang W, Chen X, et al. Bimetallic cobalt–nickel selenide nanocubes embedded in a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix as an excellent Li-ion battery anode. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2023, 15(21): 25536.

[5] H.Q. Liu, Y.N. He, H. Zhang, et al., Lowering the voltage-hysteresis of CuS anode for Li-ion batteries via constructing heterostructure, Chem. Eng. J., 425(2021), art. No. 130548.

[6] Heligman BT, Manthiram A. Elemental foil anodes for lithium-ion batteries. ACS Energy Lett., 2021, 6(8): 2666.

[7] G.L. Xia, H.Y. Zhang, M. Liang, et al., Unlocking the lithium storage capacity of aluminum by molecular immobilization and purification, Adv. Mater., 31(2019), No. 24, art. No. e1901372.

[8] H.M. Fan, S. Li, Y. Yu, et al., Air-stable Li_xAl foil as free-standing electrode with improved electrochemical ductility by shot-peening treatment, Adv. Funct. Mater., 31(2021), No. 29, art. No. 2100978.

[9] Obrovac MN, Chevrier VL. Alloy negative electrodes for Li-ion batteries. Chem. Rev., 2014, 114(23): 11444.

[10] Zheng TY, Kramer D, Mönig R, Boles ST. Aluminum foil anodes for Li-ion rechargeable batteries: The role of Li solubility within β-LiAl. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2022, 10(10): 3203.

[11] Rehnlund D, Lindgren F, Böhme S, et al. Lithium trapping in alloy forming electrodes and current collectors for lithium based batteries. Energy Environ. Sci., 2017, 10(6): 1350.

[12] Qin BS, Diemant T, Zhang H, et al. Revisiting the electrochemical lithiation mechanism of aluminum and the role of Li-rich phases (Li_1+xAl) on capacity fading. ChemSusChem, 2019, 12(12): 2609.

[13] Ghavidel MZ, Kupsta MR, Le J, Feygin E, Espitia A, Fleischauer MD. Electrochemical formation of four Al–Li phases (β-AlLi, Al₂Li₃, AlLi_2−x, Al₄Li₉) at intermediate temperatures. J. Electrochem. Soc., 2019, 166(16): A4034.

[14] Liu Y, Hudak NS, Huber DL, Limmer SJ, Sullivan JP, Huang JY. In situ transmission electron microscopy observation of pulverization of aluminum nanowires and evolution of the thin surface Al₂O₃ layers during lithiation–delithiation cycles. Nano Lett., 2011, 11(10): 4188.

[15] Jin Y, Li S, Kushima A, et al. Self-healing SEI enables full-cell cycling of a silicon-majority anode with a coulombic efficiency exceeding 99.9%. Energy Environ. Sci., 2017, 10(2): 580.

[16] Ou XW, Zhang G, Zhang SQ, Tong XY, Tang YB. Simultaneously pre-alloying and artificial solid electrolyte interface towards highly stable aluminum anode for high-performance Li hybrid capacitor. Energy Storage Mater., 2020, 28, 357.

[17] S. Li, J. Niu, Y.C. Zhao, et al., High-rate aluminium yolk–shell nanoparticle anode for Li-ion battery with long cycle life and ultrahigh capacity, Nat. Commun., 6(2015), art. No. 7872.

[18] H.Q. Liu, Y.N. He, K.Z. Cao, et al., Activating commercial Al pellets by replacing the passivation layer for high-performance half/full Li-ion batteries, Chem. Eng. J., 433(2022), art. No. 133572.

[19] I. Offen-Polak, M. Auinat, N. Sezin, Y. Ein-Eli, and M. Balaish, A binary carbon-free aluminum anode for lithium-ion batteries, J. Power Sources, 498(2021), art. No. 229902.

[20] Chang XH, Xie ZW, Liu ZL, Zheng XY, Zheng J, Li XG. Enabling high performance lithium storage in aluminum: The double edged surface oxide. Nano Energy, 2017, 41, 731.

[21] Chang XH, Xie ZW, Liu ZL, Zheng XY, Zheng J, Li XG. Aluminum: An underappreciated anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Energy Storage Mater., 2020, 25, 93.

[22] H.Q. Liu, K.Z. Cao, W.Y. Li, et al., Constructing hierarchical MnO₂/Co₃O₄ heterostructure hollow spheres for high-performance Li-ion batteries, J. Power Sources, 437(2019), art. No. 226904.

[23] Lee H, Dellatore SM, Miller WM, Messersmith PB. Mussel-inspired surface chemistry for multifunctional coatings. Science, 2007, 318(5849): 426.

[24] Zhang YG, Wang YG, Luo RJ, et al. A 3D porous FeP/rGO modulated separator as a dual-function polysulfide barrier for high-performance lithium sulfur batteries. Nanoscale Horiz., 2020, 5(3): 530.

[25] Tong XF, Zhang F, Ji BF, Sheng MH, Tang YB. Carbon-coated porous aluminum foil anode for high-rate, long-term cycling stability, and high energy density dual-ion batteries. Adv. Mater., 2016, 28(45): 9979.

[26] Sui D, Yao M, Si LQ, et al. Biomass-derived carbon coated SiO₂ nanotubes as superior anode for lithium-ion batteries. Carbon, 2023, 205, 510.

[27] Liu HQ, He YN, Jia J, Gao ZH, Jiang Y, Cao KZ. Construction and K ion storage property of B-doping porous carbon. J. Xinyang Normal Univ.Nat. Sci., 2021, 34(2): 272.

[28] K.Z. Cao, S.D. Wang, Y.H. Jia, et al., Promoting K ion storage property of SnS₂ anode by structure engineering, Chem. Eng. J., 406(2021), art. No. 126902.

[29] Huang YM, Liu C, Wei FY, et al. Chemical prelithiation of Al for use as an ambient air compatible and polysulfide resistant anode for Li-ion/S batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8(36): 18715.

[30] Qin B, Jeong S, Zhang H, et al. Enabling reversible (de)lithiation of aluminum by using bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide-based electrolytes. ChemSusChem, 2019, 12(1): 208.

[31] Li ZL, Yang YZ, Wang J, Yang Z, Zhao HL. Sandwich-like structure C/SiO_x@graphene anode material with high electrochemical performance for lithium ion batteries. Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 2022, 29(11): 1947.

[32] Sun J, Zeng QC, Lv RT, et al. A Li-ion sulfur full cell with ambient resistant Al–Li alloy anode. Energy Storage Mater., 2018, 15, 209.

[33] Lin TC, Dawson A, King SC, et al. Understanding stabilization in nanoporous intermetallic alloy anodes for Li-ion batteries using Operando transmission X-ray microscopy. ACS Nano, 2020, 14(11): 14820.

[34] Zhang N, Sun CC, Huang YQ, et al. Tuning electrolyte enables microsized Sn as an advanced anode for Li-ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9(3): 1812.

[35] X.Y. Chen, N. Cheng, L.S. Zhang, G.H. Xiang, Y.L. Ding, and Z.G. Liu, Flower-like spherical FeCoS₂ coated by reduced graphene oxide as anode for high performance potassium ion storage, J. Alloys Compd., 861(2021), art. No. 158458.

[36] Dong GS, Fang YZ, Liao SQ, et al. 3D tremella-like nitrogen-doped carbon encapsulated few-layer MoS₂ for lithium-ion batteries. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2021, 601, 594.

[37] Y.X. Zhao, C. Chang, F. Teng, et al., Water splitting: Defect-engineered ultrathin δ-MnO₂ nanosheet arrays as bifunctional electrodes for efficient overall water splitting, Adv. Energy Mater., 7(2017), No. 18, art. No. 1770102.

[38] Yan ZH, Liu JD, Wei H, et al. Embedding FeS nanodots into carbon nanosheets to improve the electrochemical performance of anode in potassium ion batteries. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2021, 593, 408.

[39] Pan MY, Lu ST, Li YY, Fan Y. Synthetic hureaulite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. J. Appl. Electrochem., 2023, 53(5): 1015.

[40] Z.Y. Chen, J.G. Hu, S.J. Liu, et al., Dual defects boosting zinc ion storage of hierarchical vanadium oxide fibers, Chem. Eng. J., 404(2021), art. No. 126536.

[41] Li C, Liu Q, Liu L, et al. Engineering hierarchical manganese molybdenum sulfide nanosheet integrated cathodes for high-energy density hybrid supercapacitors. New J. Chem., 2023, 47(29): 13820.

[42] Zhang D, Zhang CY, Zheng X, et al. Facile synthesis of the Mn₃O₄ polyhedron grown on N-doped honeycomb carbon as high-performance negative material for lithium-ion batteries. Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 2023, 30(6): 1152.