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Nano Research 2022, 15(3): 2104-2111 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3836-7
Research Article | Issue | Published: 27 September 2021

Structure-design and theoretical-calculation for ultrasmall Co3O4 anchored into ionic liquid modified graphene as anode of flexible lithium-ion batteries

Show Author's Information Longda Cong1,  Shichao Zhang1( ),  Hengyao Zhu1,  Weixin Chen3,  Xueyan Huang4,  Yalan Xing1,  Jun Xia1( ),  Puheng Yang1,2( ),  Xia Lu3
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
School of Physics Science and Nuclear Energy Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
School of Materials, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Keywords:
ionic liquid, hierarchical porous structure, co-assembly, ultrasmall cobalt oxide, flexible lithium-ion batteries, density functional theory simulations
Topics:
Lithium batteries
Cite this article:
Cong L, Zhang S, Zhu H, et al. Structure-design and theoretical-calculation for ultrasmall Co3O4 anchored into ionic liquid modified graphene as anode of flexible lithium-ion batteries. Nano Research, 2022, 15(3): 2104-2111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3836-7
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Abstract Full text About this article

Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) is currently suitable in energy storage applications because of its high capacity based on the conversion reaction mechanism. However, unmodified Co3O4 suffers from distinctly inferior rate capability and poor cycling stability. On the basis of the aforementioned considerations and density functional theory (DFT) simulations, the three-dimensional hierarchical porous structure (HPS) ultrasmall Co3O4 anchored into ionic liquid (IL) modified graphene oxide (GO) has been successfully prepared (ultrasmall/Co3O4-GA-IL). The ultrasmall/Co3O4-GA-IL consists of Co3O4 co-assembled with IL modified GO to generate the HPS which can facilitate ion transfer channels through reduction of the electron and ion transportation path and transmission impedance. In addition, N-doping graphene can enhance the inherent electrical conductivity of Co3O4, which is proved by the DFT calculations. By virtue of the novel superstructure, the ultrasmall/Co3O4-GA-IL electrode demonstrates a high reversible capacity of 1,304 mAh·g−1, an enhanced high-rate capability (715 mAh·g−1 at 5 C), and a capacity retention of 98.4% even after 500 cycles at 5 C rate, which corresponds to 0.0003% capacity loss per cycle. Pouch cells based on the cathode are further fabricated and demonstrate excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties under bent and folded state, highlighting the practical application of our deliberately designed electrode in wearable electronics.


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About this article

Structure-design and theoretical-calculation for ultrasmall Co3O4 anchored into ionic liquid modified graphene as anode of flexible lithium-ion batteries

Show Author's information Longda Cong1, Shichao Zhang1( ), Hengyao Zhu1, Weixin Chen3, Xueyan Huang4, Yalan Xing1, Jun Xia1( ), Puheng Yang1,2( ), Xia Lu3
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
School of Physics Science and Nuclear Energy Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
School of Materials, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

Abstract

Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) is currently suitable in energy storage applications because of its high capacity based on the conversion reaction mechanism. However, unmodified Co3O4 suffers from distinctly inferior rate capability and poor cycling stability. On the basis of the aforementioned considerations and density functional theory (DFT) simulations, the three-dimensional hierarchical porous structure (HPS) ultrasmall Co3O4 anchored into ionic liquid (IL) modified graphene oxide (GO) has been successfully prepared (ultrasmall/Co3O4-GA-IL). The ultrasmall/Co3O4-GA-IL consists of Co3O4 co-assembled with IL modified GO to generate the HPS which can facilitate ion transfer channels through reduction of the electron and ion transportation path and transmission impedance. In addition, N-doping graphene can enhance the inherent electrical conductivity of Co3O4, which is proved by the DFT calculations. By virtue of the novel superstructure, the ultrasmall/Co3O4-GA-IL electrode demonstrates a high reversible capacity of 1,304 mAh·g−1, an enhanced high-rate capability (715 mAh·g−1 at 5 C), and a capacity retention of 98.4% even after 500 cycles at 5 C rate, which corresponds to 0.0003% capacity loss per cycle. Pouch cells based on the cathode are further fabricated and demonstrate excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties under bent and folded state, highlighting the practical application of our deliberately designed electrode in wearable electronics.

Keywords: ionic liquid, hierarchical porous structure, co-assembly, ultrasmall cobalt oxide, flexible lithium-ion batteries, density functional theory simulations

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Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 29 June 2021
Revised: 10 August 2021
Accepted: 23 August 2021
Published: 27 September 2021
Issue date: March 2022

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2019YFA0705700), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51774017 and 51904016) and Key Program of Equipment Pre-Research Foundation of China (No. 6140721020103). The Raman characterization studies were supported by Beijing Zhongkebaice Technology Service Co., Ltd. The XPS analysis studies were supported by Shiyanjia Lab (www.shiyanjia.com).

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