Improved rate capability of a LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2/CNT/graphene hybrid material for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

In this work, a LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂/CNT/Graphene nanosheet (NCM/CNT/GN) hybrid material has been successfully prepared by a facile wet chemical method. The hierarchical structures of the CNT and GN are well maintained in the NCM/CNT/GN hybrid material, and their addition does not affect the layered crystal structure of the NCM. It is found that the NCM/CNT/GN hybrid material forms a three-dimensional (3D) spider-web like network structure via the interconnection of one-dimensional CNT and two-dimensional GN. As a result, the NCM/CNT/GN hybrid material exhibits the least electrode polarization, significantly enhanced rate capability with a high discharge capacity of 134 mA h g⁻¹ at 3.0C, as well as excellent cycling performance. The improved electrochemical performances of NCM/CNT/GN hybrid material could be well correlated with the synergistic effects of CNT and GN, efficiently building the 3D conductive network, which largely enhances the electronic conductivity and the lithium ion diffusion in the NCM electrode.