Effects of high surface energy on lithium-ion intercalation properties of Ni-doped Lisub3/subVOsub4/sub

摘要

Using nickel-doped nanocrystals boosts the stability and charge storage of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, find scientists in China. Lithium and vanadium containing oxides, such as lithium vanadate (Li3VO4), could replace graphite anodes used in commercial lithium-ion batteries because they possess more stable crystal structure and offer greater energy storage. Guozhong Cao and colleagues at the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology have found how to make the switch to Li3VO4 anodes feasible by improving this materials' poor electrical conductivity. The researchers used a simple mixing procedure to introduce nickel atoms into the Li3VO4 framework and found that the resulting nanocrystals significantly enhanced battery performance. Characterization experiments revealed that these improvements arose from nickel's electrochemical and surface-disrupting effects: amorphous surface regions induced by the dopants likely resulted in additional nucleation sites for lithium-ion extraction and intercalation processes.