Ammonium Fluoride Mediated Synthesis of Anhydrous Metal Fluoride-Mesoporous Carbon Nanocomposites for High-Performance Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes

Jinyoung Chun, Changshin Jo, Sunhye Sahgong, Min Gyu Kim, Eunho Lim, Dong Hyeon Kim, Jongkook Hwang, Eunae Kang, Keun Ah Ryu, Yoon Seok Jung, Youngsik Kim, Jinwoo Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Metal fluorides (MFx) are one of the most attractive cathode candidates for Li ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high conversion potentials with large capacities. However, only a limited number of synthetic methods, generally involving highly toxic or inaccessible reagents, currently exist, which has made it difficult to produce well-designed nanostructures suitable for cathodes; consequently, harnessing their potential cathodic properties has been a challenge. Herein, we report a new bottom-up synthetic method utilizing ammonium fluoride (NH4F) for the preparation of anhydrous MFx (CuF2, FeF3, and CoF2)/mesoporous carbon (MSU-F-C) nanocomposites, whereby a series of metal precursor nanoparticles preconfined in mesoporous carbon were readily converted to anhydrous MFx through simple heat treatment with NH4F under solventless conditions. We demonstrate the versatility, lower toxicity, and efficiency of this synthetic method and, using XRD analysis, propose a mechanism for the reaction. All MFx/MSU-F-C prepared in this study exhibited superior electrochemical performances, through conversion reactions, as the cathode for LIBs. In particular, FeF3/MSU-F-C maintained a capacity of 650 mAh g-1FeF3 across 50 cycles, which is ∼90% of its initial capacity. We expect that this facile synthesis method will trigger further research into the development of various nanostructured MFx for use in energy storage and other applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35180-35190
Number of pages11
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume8
Issue number51
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Dec 2016

Keywords

  • ammonium fluoride
  • high-capacity cathodes
  • lithium ion batteries
  • metal fluorides
  • nanocomposites

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