Physicochemical and Electrochemical Characteristics of Carbon Nanomaterials and Carbon Nanomaterial-Silicon Composites

Abstract

In this study, the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of carbon nanomaterials and synthesized nano-carbon/ Si composites were studied. The nano-carbon/Si composites were ball-milled to a nano size and coated with pyrolytic carbon using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). They were then finely mixed with respective nano-carbon materials. The physicochemical properties of samples were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and surface area analyzer. The electrochemical characteristics were investigated using the galvanostatic charge-discharge and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. Three-electrode cells were fabricated using the carbon nanomaterials and nano-carbon/Si composites as anode materials and LiPF6 and LiClO4 as electrolytes of Li secondary batteries. Reversibility using LiClO4 as an electrolyte was superior to that of LiPF6 as the electrolyte. The initial discharge capacities of nano-carbon/Si composites were increased compared to the initial discharge capacities of nanocarbon materials.