High-Capacity NiO-(Mesocarbon Microbeads) Conversion Anode for Lithium-Ion Battery

A conversion-type, NiO-MCMB (mesocarbon microbeads) composite anode prepared by high-energy ball milling is here characterized and tested in lithium half and full cells. An optimized and submicrometric morphology allows the NiO-MCMB electrode to achieve high cell performance and excellent rate capability, that is, delivering specific capacities of 515 and 450mAhg(-1) when cycled at current densities as high as 545 and 1090mAg(-1), respectively. The NiO-MCMB composite anode is studied in a full lithium-ion battery using a high-voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 electrode that is considered a suitable cathode in combination with conversion-type electrodes. The battery delivers a specific capacity of 90mAhg(-1) with high coulombic efficiency and an average working voltage of 4.1V. The electrochemical results suggest the viability of the alternative cell configuration here adopted for the development of low-cost, high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.