A high-performance Li-ion battery anode is made using Ge microwires prepared by the electrochemical liquid-liquid-solid (ec-LLS) process. Ge microwires were electrodeposited directly on SU8 patterned Cu substrate at 80 °C and transferred into a coin cell for battery tests. The Ge microwire anode was charge-discharged against a Li counter electrode and produced ~1620 mAh/g initial discharge capacity at a current rate of C/10. The Ge anode showed only 2.5% capacity loss between 1st and 2nd cycle and retained more than 80% capacity after 80 cycles at C/10 rate. Electron micrographs showed that polycrystalline Ge microwires underwent less than 33% volume expansion during lithiation at C/10 rate. Ec-LLS grown Ge microwire anode with 8.1 ± 0.5 at.% Ga impurities demonstrated better cycle life than etched Ge microwire anode. The microwire structure, polycrystallinity and Ga impurity give rise to high structural integrity of the Ge anode and results in good battery capacity retention.

High-performance Ge microwire Li-ion battery anodes as prepared by the electrochemical liquid-liquid-solid deposition process at T = 80 °C

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.