Journal Article

Vertically assembled nanosheet networks for high-density thick battery electrodes

Zhang, Xiao, Marschilok, Amy C., Takeuchi, Esther S., Xu, Xiao, Raigama, Kasun U., Wang, Lei, King, Steven T., Ju, Zhengyu, Yu, Guihua, Takeuchi, Kenneth J.

2022

Overview

As one of the prevailing energy storage systems, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become an essential pillar in electric vehicles (EVs) during the past decade, contributing significantly to a carbon-neutral future. However, the complete transition to electric vehicles requires LIBs with yet higher energy and power densities. Here, we propose an effective methodology via controlled nanosheet self-assembly to prepare low-tortuosity yet high-density and high-toughness thick electrodes. By introducing a delicate densification in a three-dimensionally interconnected nanosheet network to maintain its vertical architecture, facile electron and ion transports are enabled despite their high packing density. This dense and thick electrode is capable of delivering a high volumetric capacity >1,600 mAh cm−3, with an areal capacity up to 32 mAh cm−2, which is among the best reported in the literature. The high-performance electrodes with superior mechanical and electrochemical properties demonstrated in this work provide a potentially universal methodology in designing advanced battery electrodes with versatile anisotropic properties.

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• Subject: assembly / Chemistry / Densification / Electric vehicles / Electrochemical analysis / Electrochemistry / Electrodes / Energy storage / high-density / INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY / Lithium / Lithium-ion batteries / lithium-ion battery / low-tortuosity / Nanosheets / Packing density / Physical Sciences / Rechargeable batteries / Self-assembly / Storage batteries / Storage systems / Tortuosity