Enhancement of aluminum-based anode for lithium-ion batteries with electrochemically exfoliated reduced graphene oxide: a scalable and efficient approach
摘要
Alloying-type anode materials are a promising option for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and aluminum, due to its low cost, abundance, and safety, is a competitive candidate. However, aluminum anodes face issues like capacity decay from the destruction of active materials and low conductivity due to the aluminum oxide layer. This study addresses these challenges by creating a composite material of commercial aluminum and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) synthesized via electrochemical exfoliation. The Al/rGO composites were tested for electrochemical properties using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charging/discharging (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Results showed that all composite samples exhibited improved capacity and stability compared to pristine aluminum. The sample with 10% rGO showed the most significant stability improvement, while the 3:7 Al:rGO ratio had the highest capacity. The 5:5 ratio provided the best balance between both material phases during operation. rGO enhances conductivity, acts as a buffer phase during aluminum expansion after lithiation, and contributes to overall capacity through intercalation. EIS results showed improvement due to thermomechanical-induced self-organization, attributed to the suitable morphology of rGO. This study suggests an effective and scalable approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of aluminum anodes in LIBs.