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 language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1060-1066 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 21 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry