Issue

Vol. 15 (2023)

High-Quality Epitaxial N Doped Graphene on SiC with Tunable Interfacial Interactions via Electron/Ion Bridges for Stable Lithium-Ion Storage

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01175-6
Changlong Sun
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China
Xin Xu
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China
Cenlin Gui
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China
Fuzhou Chen
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China
Yian Wang
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
Shengzhou Chen
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China
Minhua Shao
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
Jiahai Wang
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Jiahai Wang

jiahaiwang@gzhu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 15 (2023), Article Number: 202

Abstract

Tailoring the interfacial interaction in SiC-based anode materials is crucial to the accomplishment of higher energy capacities and longer cycle lives for lithium-ion storage. In this paper, atomic-scale tunable interfacial interaction is achieved by epitaxial growth of high-quality N doped graphene (NG) on SiC (NG@SiC). This well-designed NG@SiC heterojunction demonstrates an intrinsic electric field with intensive interfacial interaction, making it an ideal prototype to thoroughly understand the configurations of electron/ion bridges and the mechanisms of interatomic electron migration. Both density functional theory (DFT) analysis and electrochemical kinetic analysis reveal that these intriguing electron/ion bridges can control and tailor the interfacial interaction via the interfacial coupled chemical bonds, enhancing the interfacial charge transfer kinetics and preventing pulverization/aggregation. As a proof-of-concept study, this well-designed NG@SiC anode shows good reversible capacity (1197.5 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.1 A g−1) and cycling durability with 76.6% capacity retention at 447.8 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 10.0 A g−1. As expected, the lithium-ion full cell (LiFePO4/C//NG@SiC) shows superior rate capability and cycling stability. This interfacial interaction tailoring strategy via epitaxial growth method provides new opportunities for traditional SiC-based anodes to achieve high-performance lithium-ion storage and beyond.


Highlights:
1 The intimate NG@SiC heterostructure has been constructed via a direct thermal decomposition method.
2 The NG@SiC heterostructure anode delivers enhanced capacity and cycling stability both in the half-cell and in the full cell.
3 DFT analysis reveals that this NG@SiC anode possesses lower lithium-ion adsorption energy and higher charge and discharge rates.

Keywords

SiC Heterojunction Interfacial engineering Lithium-ion battery DFT calculation
Sun, Changlong, Xin Xu, Cenlin Gui, Fuzhou Chen, Yian Wang, Shengzhou Chen, Minhua Shao, and Jiahai Wang. 2023. “High-Quality Epitaxial N Doped Graphene on SiC With Tunable Interfacial Interactions via Electron/Ion Bridges for Stable Lithium-Ion Storage”. Nano-Micro Letters 15 (August):202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01175-6.
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. M. Jiang, P. Mu, H. Zhang, T. Dong, B. Tang et al., An endotenon sheath-inspired double-network binder enables superior cycling performance of silicon electrodes. Nano-Micro Lett. 14, 87 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00833-5
  2. Y. Zhou, D. Yan, H. Xu, J. Feng, X. Jiang et al., Hollow nanospheres of mesoporous Co9S8 as a high-capacity and long-life anode for advanced lithium ion batteries. Nano Energy 12, 528–537 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.01.019
  3. J. Zhong, T. Wang, L. Wang, L. Peng, S. Fu et al., A silicon monoxide lithium-ion battery anode with ultrahigh areal capacity. Nano-Micro Lett. 14, 50 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00790-z
  4. Y. Gao, Z. Pan, J. Sun, Z. Liu, J. Wang, High-energy batteries: beyond lithium-ion and their long road to commercialisation. Nano-Micro Lett. 14, 94 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00844-2
  5. J. Lu, Y. Zhang, X. Gong, L. Li, S. Pang et al., High-yield synthesis of ultrathin silicon nanosheets by physical grinding enables robust lithium-ion storage. Chem. Eng. J. 446, 137022 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.137022
  6. T.K. Bijoy, J. Karthikeyan, P. Murugan, Exploring the mechanism of spontaneous and lithium-assisted graphitic phase formation in SiC nanocrystallites of a high capacity li-ion battery anode. J. Phys. Chem. C 121, 15106 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b04489
  7. C. Sun, Y.-J. Wang, H. Gu, H. Fan, G. Yang et al., Interfacial coupled design of epitaxial Graphene@SiC Schottky junction with built-in electric field for high-performance anodes of lithium ion batteries. Nano Energy 77, 105092 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105092
  8. Y. Xiang, L. Xu, L. Yang, Y. Ye, Z. Ge et al., Natural stibnite for lithium-/sodium-ion batteries: carbon dots evoked high initial coulombic efciency. Nano-Micro Lett. 14, 136 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00873-x
  9. S. Park, J. Sung, S. Chae, J. Hong, T. Lee et al., Scalable synthesis of hollow β-SiC/Si anodes via selective thermal oxidation for lithium-ion batteries. ACS Nano 14, 11548 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c04013
  10. D.T. Ngo, H.T.T. Le, X.-M. Pham, C.-N. Park, C.-J. Park, Facile synthesis of Si@SiC composite as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9, 32790 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b10658
  11. X. Wang, K.M. Liew, Density functional study of interaction of lithium with pristine and stone-wales-defective single-walled silicon carbide nanotubes. J. Phys. Chem. C 116, 26888 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp3076047
  12. Y. Yang, J.-G. Ren, X. Wang, Y.-S. Chui, Q.-H. Wu et al., Graphene encapsulated and SiC reinforced silicon nanowires as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. Nanoscale 5, 8689 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1039/C3NR02788K
  13. K. Lin, X. Xu, X. Qin, M. Liu, L. Zhao et al., Commercially viable hybrid Li-ion/metal batteries with high energy density realized by symbiotic anode and prelithiated cathode. Nano-Micro Lett. 14, 149 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00899-1
  14. X.D. Huang, F. Zhang, X.F. Gan, Q.A. Huang, J.Z. Yang et al., Electrochemical characteristics of amorphous silicon carbide film as a lithium-ion battery anode. RSC Adv. 8, 5189 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA12463E
  15. W. He, H. Xu, Z. Chen, J. Long, J. Zhang et al., Regulating the solvation structure of Li+ enables chemical prelithiation of silicon-based anodes toward high-energy lithiumion batteries. Nano-Micro Lett. 15, 107 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01068-8
  16. T. Sri Devi Kumari, D. Jeyakumar, T. Prem Kumar, Nano silicon carbide: a new lithium-insertion anode material on the horizon. RSC Adv. 3, 15028 (2013)
  17. H. Li, H. Yu, X. Zhang, G. Guo, J. Hu et al., Bowl-like 3C-SiC nanoshells encapsulated in hollow graphitic carbon spheres for high-rate lithium-ion batteries. Chem. Mater. 28, 1179 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b04750
  18. A.L. Lipson, S. Chattopadhyay, H.J. Karmel, T.T. Fister, J.D. Emery et al., Enhanced lithiation of doped 6H silicon carbide (0001) via high temperature vacuum growth of epitaxial graphene. J. Phys. Chem. C 116, 20949 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp307220y
  19. C. Sun, Y.-J. Wang, D. Liu, B. Fang, W. Yan et al., Tailoring interfacial interaction in GaN@NG heterojunction via electron/ion bridges for enhanced lithium-ion storage performance. Chem. Eng. J. 453, 139603 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.139603
  20. Z.Y. Al Balushi, K. Wang, R.K. Ghosh, R.A. Vila, S.M. Eichfeld et al., Two-dimensional gallium nitride realized via graphene encapsulation. Nat. Mater. 15, 1166 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4742
  21. K.S. Novoselov, V.I. Fal’ko, L. Colombo, P.R. Gellert, M.G. Schwab et al., A roadmap for graphene. Nature 490, 192 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11458
  22. C. Sun, F. Chen, X. Tang, D.D. Zhang, K. Zheng et al., Simultaneous interfacial interaction and built-in electric field regulation of GaZnON@NG for high-performance lithium-ion storage. Nano Energy 99, 107369 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107369
  23. S. Wang, X. Yuan, X. Bi, X. Wang, Q. Huang, Observation of the retarded transportation of a photogenerated hole on epitaxial graphene. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 17, 23711 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CP03569D
  24. J. Röhrl, M. Hundhausen, K.V. Emtsev, T. Seyller, R. Graupner et al., Raman spectra of epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001). Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 201918 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2929746
  25. C. Hu, H. Liu, Y. Liu, J.-F. Chen, Y. Li et al., Graphdiyne with tunable activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction. Nano Energy 63, 103874 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.103874
  26. C. Sun, M. Yang, T. Wang, Y. Shao, Y. Wu et al., Stable and reversible lithium storage with high pseudocapacitance in GaN nanowires. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10, 2574 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b16416
  27. J. Yang, X. Zeng, L. Chen, W. Yuan, Photocatalytic water splitting to hydrogen production of reduced graphene oxide/SiC under visible light. Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 083101 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4792695
  28. C. Sun, X. Tang, Z. Yin, D. Liu, Y. Wang et al., Self-supported GaN nanowires with cation-defects, lattice distortion, and abundant active sites for high-rate lithium-ion storage. Nano Energy 68, 104376 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104376
  29. Y. Wen, T.E. Rufford, X. Chen, N. Li, M. Lyu et al., Nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx MXene electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors. Nano Energy 38, 368 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.06.009
  30. L. Sun, B. Wang, Y. Wang, A novel silicon carbide nanosheet for high-performance humidity sensor. Adv. Mater. Interfaces 5, 1701300 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201701300
  31. H. Shang, Z. Zuo, H. Zheng, K. Li, Z. Tu et al., N-doped graphdiyne for high-performance electrochemical electrodes. Nano Energy 44, 144 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.11.072
  32. K.V. Emtsev, A. Bostwick, K. Horn, J. Jobst, G.L. Kellogg et al., Towards wafer-size graphene layers by atmospheric pressure graphitization of silicon carbide. Nat. Mater. 8, 203 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2382
  33. L. Zhao, R. He, K.T. Rim, T. Schiros, K.S. Kim et al., Visualizing individual nitrogen dopants in monolayer graphene. Science 333, 999 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1208759
  34. T. Luo, X. Chen, P. Wang, C. Li, B. Cao et al., Laser Irradiation-Induced SiC@graphene sub-microspheres: a bioinspired core-shell structure for enhanced tribology properties. Adv. Mater. Interfaces 5, 1700839 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201700839
  35. L. Liu, Y.M. Yiu, T.K. Sham, L. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Electronic structures and optical properties of 6H- and 3C-SiC microstructures and nanostructures from X-ray absorption fine structures, X-ray excited optical luminescence, and theoretical studies. J. Phys. Chem. C 114, 6966 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp100277s
  36. Y. Baba, T. Sekiguchi, I. Shimoyama, K.G. Nath, Structures of sub-monolayered silicon carbide films. Appl. Surf. Sci. 237, 176 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2004.06.092
  37. V.Y. Aristov, G. Urbanik, K. Kummer, D.V. Vyalikh, O.V. Molodtsova et al., Graphene synthesis on cubic sic/si wafers. perspectives for mass production of graphene-based electronic devices. Nano Lett. 10, 992 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1021/nl904115h
  38. Y.K. Chang, H.H. Hsieh, W.F. Pong, M.H. Tsai, T.E. Dann et al., X-ray absorption of Si–C–N thin films: A comparison between crystalline and amorphous phases. J. Appl. Phys. 86, 5609 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.371568
  39. Y. Fang, Y. Xue, Y. Li, H. Yu, L. Hui et al., Graphdiyne interface engineering: highly active and selective ammonia synthesis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 59, 13021 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202004213
  40. C. Sun, F. Ma, L. Cai, A. Wang, Y. Wu et al., Metal-free ternary BCN nanosheets with synergetic effect of band gap engineering and magnetic properties. Sci. Rep. 7, 6617 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1817881116
  41. C. Sun, M. Yang, T. Wang, Y. Shao, Y. Wu et al., Graphene-oxide-assisted synthesis of GaN nanosheets as a new anode material for lithium-ion battery. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9, 26631 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b07277
  42. F. Chen, C. Sun, S. Robertson, S. Chen, Y. Zhu et al., Unlocking robust lithium storage performance in high 1T-phase purity MoS2 constructed by Mg intercalation. Nano Energy 104, 107894 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107894
  43. Z. Li, K. Gao, Y. Han, S. Ding, Y. Cui et al., Atomic insights of electronic states engineering of GaN nanowires by Cu cation substitution for highly efficient lithium ion battery. J. Energy Chem. 67, 46 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jechem.2021.09.007
  44. M. Yang, C. Sun, T. Wang, F. Chen, M. Sun et al., Graphene-oxide-assisted synthesis of Ga2O3 nanosheets/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites anodes for advanced alkali-ion batteries. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 1, 4708 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.8b00826
  45. B. Li, R. Qi, J. Zai, F. Du, C. Xue et al., Silica wastes to high-performance lithium storage materials: a rational designed Al2O3 coating assisted magnesiothermic process. Small 12, 5281 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201601914
  46. C. Wang, Y. Li, K. Ostrikov, Y. Yang, W. Zhang, Synthesis of SiC decorated carbonaceous nanorods and its hierarchical composites Si@SiC@C for high-performance lithium ion batteries. J. Alloys Compd. 646, 966 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.06.177
  47. J. Yang, Y.-X. Wang, S.-L. Chou, R. Zhang, Y. Xu et al., Yolk-shell silicon-mesoporous carbon anode with compact solid electrolyte interphase film for superior lithium-ion batteries. Nano Energy 18, 133 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.09.016
  48. T. Yoon, T. Bok, C. Kim, Y. Na, S. Park et al., Mesoporous silicon hollow nanocubes derived from metal–organic framework template for advanced lithium-ion battery anode. ACS Nano 11, 4808 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.7b01185
  49. Q. Peng, Y. Lie, Z. Tang, C. Sun, J. Li et al., Electron density modulation of GaN nanowires by manganese incorporation for highly high-rate Lithium-ion storage. Electrochim. Acta 350, 136380 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136380
  50. K. Xie, J. Wang, S. Yu, P. Wang, C. Sun, Tunable electronic properties of free-standing Fe-doped GaN nanowires as high-capacity anode of lithium-ion batteries. Arab. J. Chem. 14, 103161 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2021.103161
  51. S. Lou, X. Cheng, Y. Zhao, A. Lushington, J. Gao et al., Superior performance of ordered macroporous TiNb2O7 anodes for lithium ion batteries: Understanding from the structural and pseudocapacitive insights on achieving high rate capability. Nano Energy 34, 15 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.01.058
  52. H. He, Q. Gan, H. Wang, G.-L. Xu, X. Zhang et al., Structure-dependent performance of TiO2/C as anode material for Na-ion batteries. Nano Energy 44, 217 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.11.077
  53. Y. Han, C. Sun, K. Gao, S. Ding, Z. Miao et al., Heterovalent oxynitride GaZnON nanowire as novel flexible anode for lithium-ion storage. Electrochim. Acta 408, 139931 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2022.139931
  54. G. Ali, J.-H. Lee, S.H. Oh, H.-G. Jung, K.Y. Chung, Elucidating the reaction mechanism of SnF2@C nanocomposite as a high-capacity anode material for Na-ion batteries. Nano Energy 42, 106 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.10.036
  55. K. Gao, Z. Miao, Y. Han, D. Li, W. Sun et al., One-step method synthesis of cobalt-doped GeZn1.7ON1.8 p for enhanced lithium-ion storage performance. Electrochim. Acta 442, 141876 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2023.141876
  56. F. Ma, S. Guan, D. Liu, Z. Liu, Y. Qiu, C. Sun, Y.J. Wang, Ge-doped quaternary metallic oxynitrides GaZnON: The high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries. J. Alloys Compd. 940, 168777 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.168777
  57. S. Wang, C. Sun, Y. Shao, Y. Wu, L. Zhang et al., Self-supporting GaN nanowires/graphite paper: novel high-performance flexible supercapacitor electrodes. Small 13, 1603330 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201603330
  58. T. Wang, C. Sun, M. Yang, G. Zhao, S. Wang et al., Phase-transformation engineering in MoS2 on carbon cloth as flexible binder-free anode for enhancing lithium storage. J. Alloys Compd. 716, 112 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.05.071
  59. Z. Li, S. Ding, J. Yin, M. Zhang, C. Sun et al., Morphology-dependent electrochemical performance of VS4 for rechargeable magnesium battery and its magnesiation/demagnesiation mechanism. J. Power Sources 451, 227815 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.227815
  60. T. Wang, C. Sun, M. Yang, L. Zhang, Y. Shao et al., Enhanced reversible lithium ion storage in stable 1T@2H WS2 nanosheet arrays anchored on carbon fiber. Electrochim. Acta 259, 1 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.10.154
Read More
Author biographies are not available.
Download this PDF file
PDF SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
Statistic
Read Counter : 3144 Download : 2349