Researchers from Nec Corporation have developed a graphene-based porous material, dubbed "Magic G", that can reportedly be used in both the anode and the cathode of a lithium-ion battery, as an additive, to increase its performance.
Both the precursor and the final Magic G product were characterized through commercially available machines and methods, including field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy (NRS-7000), gas adsorption and temperature programmed desorptionmass spectrometry (TPD-MS) (Shimadzu GC/MS- QP2010 Plus). Both the anode and cathode of the cell showed a much greater performance and charge rate after the incorporation of Magic G.
When compared to other non-Magic G Li-ion batteries, the addition of 0.5%wt addition into the anode improved the charge capacity retention from 56% to 77% at 6 cycles and from 7% to 45% at 10 cycles. In the cathode, the same amount of Magic G was incorporated and showed an increase in the discharge capacity rate from 43% to 76% at 6 cycles and an increase from 16% to 40% at 10 cycles. The cyclability for both electrodes, at high rates, was improved through the addition of the graphene sponge.
Alongside more noticeable improvements, the addition of Magic G into the electrodes also increased the electronic conductivity, the adsorption of electrolytes and decreased the active materials charge transfer resistance.