Issue 36, 2013
From the journal:

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

A vein-like nanoporous network of Nb2O5 with a higher lithium intercalation discharge cut-off voltage†

Md Mokhlesur Rahman,*a   Rozina Abdul Rani,b   Abu Z. Sadek,a   Ahmad Sabirin Zoolfakar,bc   Matthew R. Field,b   Thrinathreddy Ramireddy,a   Kourosh Kalantar-zadehb  and  Ying Chen*a  

* Corresponding authors

a Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
E-mail: m.rahman@deakin.edu.au, ian.chen@deakin.edu.au
Fax: +61 352271103
Tel: +61 352272642

b School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia

c Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia

Abstract

A novel morphology of a criss-cross vein-like nanoporous network of Nb2O5 produced using a simple electrochemical anodization method is presented as a superior electrode for safe lithium-ion batteries. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations demonstrate that the synthesised Nb2O5 is made of a continuous and highly packed vein-like nanoporous network with many lateral interconnections, which provides excellent channels for the fast transfer of both Li+ ions and electrons. Even without surface coating or cation doping, the porous Nb2O5 electrode could deliver durable capacity within the operating voltage window of 1.0–3.0 V vs. Li/Li+, with a reversible capacity of 201 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 0.4 A g−1. At the higher discharge cut-off voltage window of 1.2–3.0 V, the reversible capacity decreased to 175 mA h g−1. The first cycle Coulombic efficiency was above 94% for both operating voltage windows with a negligible capacity fading up to 300 cycles. The porous Nb2O5 electrode demonstrates several advantages as an anode including: (i) Improved cell safety due to a higher, V ≥ 1.0, discharge cut-off voltage which reduces dangerous high-temperature reactions; (ii) low level of irreversibility in the first cycle by preventing the formation of a solid electrolyte interface layer; (iii) high Coulombic efficiency due to sufficient infiltration of the electrolyte and fast diffusion of Li+ ions and (iv) high rate capability. Moreover, the synthesis method reports a novel smart design of nanostructured anode electrode materials capable of overcoming the existing limitations.

Graphical abstract: A vein-like nanoporous network of Nb2O5 with a higher lithium intercalation discharge cut-off voltage

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TA12149F
Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Jun 2013
Accepted
11 Jul 2013
First published
12 Jul 2013

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013,1, 11019-11025

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A vein-like nanoporous network of Nb2O5 with a higher lithium intercalation discharge cut-off voltage

M. M. Rahman, R. A. Rani, A. Z. Sadek, A. S. Zoolfakar, M. R. Field, T. Ramireddy, K. Kalantar-zadeh and Y. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 11019 DOI: 10.1039/C3TA12149F

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