Rapid synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene for a lithium ion battery anode with excellent rate performance and super-long cyclic stability

Tao Hu, Xiang Sun, Hongtao Sun, Guoqing Xin, Dali Shao, Changsheng Liu, Jie Lian

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149 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chemical doping of nitrogen into graphene can significantly enhance the reversible capacity and cyclic stability of the graphene-based lithium ion battery (LIB) anodes, and first principles calculations based on density functional theory suggested that pyridinic-N shows stronger binding with Li with reduced energy barrier for Li diffusion and thus is more effective for Li storage than pyrrolic and graphitic-N. Here, we report a novel and rapid (∼30 seconds) process to fabricate nitrogen-doped graphene (NGr) by simultaneous thermal reduction of graphene oxide with ammonium hydroxide. The porous NGr with dominant pyridinic N atoms displays greatly enhanced reversible capacities, rate performance and exceptional cyclic stability as compared with pristine graphene. The reversible discharge capacity of the NGr electrode cycled between 0.01-3 V can reach 453 mA h g-1 after 550 cycles at a charge rate of 2 A g-1 (∼5.4 C), and 180 mA h g-1 after 2000 cycles at a high charge rate of 10 A g-1 (∼27 C) without any capacity fading. When charged within 0.01-1.5 V, the NGr anode still exhibits high reversible capacities of 224 mA h g-1 and 169 mA h g -1 after 700 cycles and 800 cycles at a charge rate of 1 A g -1 and 5 A g-1, respectively. Ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the NGr electrode upon lithiation and delithiation indicated that the pyridinic-N dominates the capacity enhancement at 3 V, while the pyrrolic-N contributes primarily to Li ion storage below 1.5 V.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1060-1066
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 21 2014
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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