Structural Transformation of Li-Excess Cathode Materials via Facile Preparation and Assembly of Sonication-Induced Colloidal Nanocrystals for Enhanced Lithium Storage Performance

Jianqing Zhao, Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials InnovationS, College of Physics, Optoelectronic and Energy & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University , Suzhou 215006, China.
Ruiming Huang, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers-Newark, The State University of New Jersey , Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States.
Pablo Ramos, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers-Newark, The State University of New Jersey , Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States.
Yiying Yue, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Qinglin Wu, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Michele Pavanello, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers-Newark, The State University of New Jersey , Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States.
Jieyu Zhou, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers-Newark, The State University of New Jersey , Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States.
Xiaoxiao Kuai, Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials InnovationS, College of Physics, Optoelectronic and Energy & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University , Suzhou 215006, China.
Lijun Gao, Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials InnovationS, College of Physics, Optoelectronic and Energy & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University , Suzhou 215006, China.
Huixin He, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers-Newark, The State University of New Jersey , Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States.
Ying Wang, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-13-2017

Abstract

A surfactant-free sonication-induced route is developed to facilely prepare colloidal nanocrystals of Li-excess layered LiMnNiCoO (marked as LMNCO) material. The sonication process plays a critical role in forming LMNCO nanocrystals in ethanol (ethanol molecules marked as EtOHs) and inducing the interaction between LMNCO and solvent molecules. The formation mechanism of LMNCO-EtOH supramolecules in the colloidal dispersion system is proposed and examined by the theoretical simulation and light scattering technique. It is suggested that the as-formed supramolecule is composed of numerous ethanol molecules capping the surface of the LMNCO nanocrystal core via hydrogen bonding. Such chemisorption gives rise to dielectric polarization of the absorbed ethanol molecules, resulting in a negative surface charge of LMNCO colloids. The self-assembly behaviors of colloidal LMNCO nanocrystals are then tentatively investigated by tuning the solvent evaporation condition, which results in diverse superstructures of LMNCO materials after the evaporation of ethanol. The reassembled LMNCO architectures exhibit remarkably improved capacity and cyclability in comparison with the original LMNCO particles, demonstrating a very promising cathode material for high-energy lithium-ion batteries. This work thus provides new insights into the formation and self-assembly of multiple-element complex inorganic colloids in common and surfactant-free solvents for enhanced performance in device applications.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

ACS applied materials & interfaces

First Page

31181

Last Page

31191

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