Author(s)

Dawei Luo¹, Yuban Lei², Ning Zhao¹, Hang He¹, Khan Abrar¹, Kun Li^1*

¹School of Applied Chemistry and Biological Technology, Shenzhen Polytechnic, Shenzhen, China.
²Department of Resource Engineering, Guangxi Modern polytechnic college, Hechi, China.

In this study, novel Carbon aerogel (CA)/Co₃O₄/Carbon (C) composites with a double protective structure are synthesized through a solvothermal method and in-situ polymerization. The morphology and structure are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The loading content of active anode material Co₃O₄ in the composite is investigated by thermogravimetry, and the electrochemical properties of the composite are characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The SEM results show that the nano-sized spherical Co₃O₄ particle is adhered to the inner Carbon aerogel (CA). The HRTEM result indicates the thickness of the prepared Carbon (C) up to 40 nm. Nano-sheet is coated on the surface of the Co₃O₄ particle. Compared with the pure Co₃O₄ anode materials, the Carbon aerogel (CA)/Co₃O₄/Carbon (C) composites have better transport kinetics for both electron and lithium-ion in EIS testing results, which may contribute to its higher specific capacity and higher first coulomb efficiency. Due to the unique structure of the composite material with double protection against the volume expansion of Co₃O₄ when charged, the Carbon aerogel (CA)/Co₃O₄/Carbon (C) composite material exhibits better cycle stability with a discharge capacity of 1180 mAh/g after 50 cycles. Therefore, the double protection strategy is verified as an effective method to improve the electrochemical performance of transition metal oxide with carbon composite as an anode material in lithium battery.

Carbon Protection, Co₃O₄ Anode, Lithium Ion Battery

Luo, D. , Lei, Y. , Zhao, N. , He, H. , Abrar, K. and Li, K. (2020) Unique Double Carbon Protection Structured Co₃O₄ Anode for Lithium Ion Battery. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 8, 56-70. doi: 10.4236/msce.2020.812005.