PNNL

Abstract

Lithiation-induced-strain (LIS) in electrode materials plagues the performance and lifetime of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Controlling the LIS is one of the ultimate goals for making better LIBs. Here we report that by carbon or aluminum coating, the charging rate and LIS of individual SnO2 nanowire electrodes can be altered dramatically: namely the carbon or aluminum coated nanowires can be charged about 10 times faster than the non-coated nanowires, and the radial expansion of the coated nanowires was completely suppressed, resulting little or no mismatch strain at the reaction front, as evidenced by the lack of dislocations near the reaction front. The improved charging rate and the suppression of the radial expansion were attributed to the mechanical confinement of the coatings. These studies demonstrate an effective route to control the charging rate and LIS, enabling the design of better LIBs.