title: In Situ Synthesis and Characterization of Ge Embedded Electrospun Carbon Nanostructures as High Performance Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries.
abstract: While active materials based on germanium (Ge) are considered as a promising alternative anodic electrode due to their relatively high reversible capacity and excellent lithium-ion diffusivity, the quite unstable structural/electrochemical stability and severe volume expansion or pulverization problems of Ge electrodes remain a considerable challenge in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Here, we present the development of Ge embedded in one-dimensional carbon nanostructures (Ge/CNs) synthesized by the modified in situ electrospinning technique using a mixed electrospun solution consisting of a Ge precursor as an active material source and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a carbon source. The as-prepared Ge/CNs exhibit superior lithium ion behavior properties, i.e., highly reversible specific capacity, rate performance, Li ion diffusion coefficient, and superior cyclic stability (capacity retention: 85% at 200 mA g(-1)) during Li alloying/dealloying processes. These properties are due to the high electrical conductivity and unique structures containing well-embedded Ge nanoparticles (NPs) and a one-dimensional carbon nanostructure as a buffer medium, which is related to the volume expansion of Ge NPs. Thus, it is expected that the Ge/CNs can be utilized as a promising alternative anodic material in LIBs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom.|Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University , Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University , Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Da-Mi
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University , Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Si-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University , Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Cheol
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University , Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hui-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University , Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jung Inn
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Seung Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University , Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Ge; anode; carbon nanofibers; composite; electrospun; lithium-ion batteries