Growing vertical graphene sheets on natural graphite for fast charging lithium-ion batteries

A goal of extreme fast charging less than 15 min recharge time while maintaining high energy density has been pursued to meet fast-charging and high-energy-density demand on lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles, which is still a challenge. Here, in order to realize the goal vertical graphene sheets are grown on surface of graphite by thermal chemical vapor deposition. The vertical graphene sheets not only can greatly boost lithium-ion transport rate due to its intrinsically high electrical conductivity but also can significantly reduce tortuosity of lithium ion transport due to its highly preferential lithium-ion insertion paths. In half cells, the vertical graphene sheets/graphite can endure 3000 cycles in 3 min of charge time per cycle. More remarkably, a full cell with vertical graphene sheets/graphite anode and LiFePO4 cathode exhibits an ultrahigh energy density of 312.1 Wh kg(-1) in 10 min of charge time per cycle at 4 C, indicating that the vertical graphene sheets/graphite anode possesses ability of extreme fast charging while maintaining high energy density. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aims to achieve extreme fast charging of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles by growing vertical graphene sheets on the surface of graphite. The research demonstrates that the vertical graphene sheets can enhance lithium-ion transport rate and reduce tortuosity of lithium ion transport, resulting in improved cycling performance and energy density of the batteries.