Vertically aligned and tree-like carbon nanostructures as anode of lithium ion battery

A novel nanostructured carbon thin film, is synthesized by electron cyclotron plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and is proposed as the anode material for lithium ion battery. The individual nanostructures of the thin film have a multiwalled carbon nanotube, with carbon films attached to it, giving it a tree like appearance. All the nanostructures are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The unique morphological structure and the vertical alignment provides for a large as well as unhindered area of interaction between the electrode material and the electrolyte. The cyclic voltammetry studies of the material with respect to lithium, shows that the lithium ions can be repeatedly intercalated and deintercalated to and from the material. On performing galvanostatic charge discharge cycling, the material has shown a lithiation capacity of 323 μAh·cm−2·μm−1 (2590 mAh·g−1) and a delithiation capacity of 65 μAh·cm−2·μm−1 (522 mAh·g−1) for the first cycle. The specific capacity after five cycles, during lithiation is 74 μAh·cm−2·μm−1 (607 mAh·g−1) delithiation is 56 μAh·cm−2·μm−1 (459 mAh·g−1). The reversible specific capacity for the material remains almost constant after this initial capacity loss up to 50 cycles. [Display omitted] •A new material as anode of lithium ion battery has been proposed.•Material has tree-like morphology with an aligned CNT as “trunk” of the “tree”.•Improvement in capacity from aligned CNT on addition of “branches” is demonstrated.