Nanostructured silicon for application in lithium-ion batteries and muon studies

Yue, Chenghao (2020) Nanostructured silicon for application in lithium-ion batteries and muon studies. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Three types of nanostructured silicon materials have been investigated: Phenylacetylene capped silicon nanoparticle, Biomass SiOx based material and Hollow structured silicon nanoparticles. The aim of this project is to investigate various silicon nanostructures for better performance in energy applications, for example, high capacity anode materials in lithium-ion battery.

Phenylacetylene capped silicon nanoparticles are synthesized following a bottom up process. Organic ligands are attached to the silicon nanoparticles. This material is used for muon study to get an insight look at the microstructure of the nanoparticles. Muon spin spectroscopy is involved in this project to study the microscopic conductivity between silicon nanoparticles with the ligand (Phenylacetylene) attached to the silicon nanoparticles. Phenylacetylene capped silicon nanoparticles and model molecule are compared using Transverse Field Muon Spin Rotation (TF- μSR) and Avoided Level Crossing Muon Spin Resonance (ALC-μSR). Computer simulations are used for identifying and studying the muon additions.

Biomass SiOX based material is burned and ball milled from barley husk. With the impurities burned away, only silicon oxide and carbon are left after the initial procedure. Oxygen will react with carbon during ball milling, so the percentage of SiOx will increase. This material is applied in lithium-ion batteries.

Hollow structure silicon nanoparticles are synthesized via two steps solution process. Glucose solution is used to get produce mono-disperse colloidal carbon on the surface under hydrothermal conditions to wrap the silicon nanoparticles with a thick carbon shell. Titanium isoproproxide was used to get a Ti4+ shell outside the carbon shell. Without gas protection, the carbon was burned away and the Ti4+ reacts with oxygen to give a TiO2 shell. This hollow structured silicon nanoparticles are for application in lithium-ion batteries. EMU is a μSR spectrometer which is optimised for zero field and longitudinal field measurements. EMU is involved in this project to investigate the diffusion kinetics of lithium ions in this anode materials.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2021 13:50
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2023 01:38
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/80952
DOI:

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