Search

Abstract: An amorphous silicon film with an average thickness of up to 2μm was deposited on copper foil by direct-circuit (dc) magnetron sputtering and coupled with commercial LiCoO2 cathode to fabricate cells. Their cycle performance and high rate capability at room temperature have been investigated. In the voltage range 2.5–3.9V at the current density of 0.2C (0.11mAcm−2), the lithiation and delithiation capacity of this cell was first increased to 0.55mAhcm−2 within 80 cycles and maintained stable during the following cycles. After 300 cycles its capacity still retained 0.54mAhcm−2. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) image indicated that the sputtered film could keep an amorphous structure although the volume expansion ratio during the lithiation and delithiation was still up to 300% after 300 cycles observed from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image. This recovered amorphous structure was believed to be beneficial for the improvement of the cycle life of the cell. Rate performance showed that the cells had a promising high rate capability. At 30C, its lithiation/delithiation capacity remained 25% of that at 0.2C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mg1.8La0.2Ni hydrogen storage alloy was ball-milled with Ni powder, leading to the formation of a nanocrystalline and amorphous microstructure with particle sizes less than 50 nm in diameter. Each sample was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This structure was beneficial for the reduction of electrochemical impedance, as well as significant improvement of its discharge capacity, cycle life, and rate capability for electrochemical hydrogen storage in an alkaline solution. When the molar ratio (x) of Ni over Mg1.8La0.2Ni was equal to 2, the dehydriding capacity reached 2.55 wt % from electrochemical pressure-temperature isotherms (P-C-T). It was in good agreement with its initial discharge capacity, 716 mA*h/[g of (Mg1.8La0.2Ni)], observed from the electrochemical charge and discharge process. After 50 cycles, its discharge capacity still reached 381 mA*h/[g of (Mg1.8La0.2Ni)]. Further results showed that this composite had a promising high rate capability. At the current density of 1200 mA/g its discharge capacity reached 48% of its initial capacity.