Non-Annealed Graphene Paper as a Binder-Free Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Non-annealed graphene paper, prepared via reduction of prefabricated graphene oxide paper with hydrazine hydrate, was employed as the sole component of a binder-free lithium-ion battery anode, circumventing the polymer binders and other additives required for the fabrication of conventional electrodes. The binder-free anode fabricated from this non-annealed paper possessed excellent cyclability, while exhibiting a voltage versus capacity profile similar to that of a polymer-bound graphene powder anode. Kinetic barriers may exist for Li ion diffusion through the layered paper structure as decreasing the current rate from 50 to 10 mA.g(-1) increased the reversible capacity by over 150%.