The synthesis of novel porous graphene anodes for fast charging and improved electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries

ABSTRACT

As part of sustainable development goals seven and thirteen, electric vehicles (EV) are taking over internal combustion engine vehicles by using battery packs as their power source. One major concern for the EV sector is the charging time of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Advancing the battery pack industry and the EV sector will benefit economically and environmentally by creating pores on the graphene anode using the NaCl activation method, eventually leading to high performance and efficiency in Li-ion batteries. Accordingly, the present study focused on fabricating novel macroporous graphene (MPG) anodes for fast-charging Li-ion batteries. Macropores increase the anode surface area, thereby enhancing lithiation. The performance of the novel MPG anode is compared with that of the commercial mesocarbon microbead (MCMB) anode. As a result, the MPG anode exhibits a 15% faster charge than the MCMB at a 0.1 C rate. Moreover, the specific capacity of the MPG anode retains 16.3% higher than the MCMB anode after the completion of the 100th cycle.

KEYWORDS:

• Graphene
• energy storage
• electric vehicles
• Raman spectroscopy
• cyclic voltammetry

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing Technology and STEP, IIT Kharagpur, for providing electrochemical analysis equipment and Raman spectroscopy, respectively, for the successful completion of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).