Modification of natural Ukrainian graphite using nanostructured oxides. Increasing performance of anodes and cathodes of Li - ion batteries

The surface modification of natural Ukrainian graphite by the nanostructured zirconium oxide (ZrO2) developed by the authors of the article increases the specific reversible discharge capacitance and the stability of the electrode cycling in Li batteries with non-aqueous electrolyte compared with electrodes based on unmodified graphite. This applies both to anodes, based on modified graphite in Li-ion batteries, and to cathodes with modified graphite as an electrically conductive additive. Modification of graphite with zirconium oxide was carried out in solutions of isopropyl and isobutyl alcohols with subsequent heat treatment at a temperature of 120 degrees C and 500 degrees C. The service life of electrodes based on graphite modified in isopropyl solution was 1300 cycles, the degree of capacity decrease during the cycling process was 0.031 mA.h/g per cycle. Lithium power sources, for which the use of modified graphite is planned, are based on the following Ukrainian raw materials: graphite, manganese and zirconium. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.