title: Embedded into graphene Ge nanoparticles highly dispersed on vertically aligned graphene with excellent electrochemical performance for lithium storage.
abstract: Decreasing particle size has always been reported to be an efficient way to improve cyclability of Li-alloying based LIBs. However, nanoparticles (NPs) tend to agglomerate and evolve into lumps, which in turn limits the cycling performance. In this report, we prepared a unique nanostructure, graphene-coated Ge NPs are highly dispersed on vertically aligned graphene (Ge@graphene/VAGN), to avoid particle agglomeration and pulverization. Remarkable structure stability of the sample leads to excellent cycling stability. Upon cycling, the anode exhibits a high capacity of 1014 mAh g(-1), with nearly no capacity loss in 90 cycles. Rate performance shows that even at the high current density of 13 A g(-1), the anode could still deliver a higher capacity than that of graphite.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University , Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shuaixing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Chengxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Ge NPs; binder free; cyclability; graphene coating; lithium-ion batteries; vertically aligned graphene