Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2014 Novel silicon and tin alloy nano-particulate materials via spark erosion for high performance and high capacity anodes in lithium ion batteries Emma Marie Hamilton White Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Mechanics of Materials Commons, and the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons Recommended Citation White, Emma Marie Hamilton, "Novel silicon and tin alloy nano-particulate materials via spark erosion for high performance and high capacity anodes in lithium ion batteries" (2014). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 13801. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/13801 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Novel silicon and tin alloy nano-particulate materials via spark erosion for high performance and high capacity anodes in lithium ion batteries by Emma Marie Hamilton White A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Materials Science & Engineering Program of Study Committee: Iver E. Anderson, Co-Major Professor Steve W. Martin, Co-Major Professor Andrew C. Hillier Matthew J. Kramer Ralph E. Napolitano Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2014 Copyright © Emma Marie Hamilton White, 2014. All rights reserved. ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my smart, loving and supportive family, especially my mother, Lisa, my brother, David, and my twin sister, Molly. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... ii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... xi NOMENCLATURE .................................................................................................. xiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... xiv ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. xvi CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Literature Review ................................................................................................ 4 Thesis Hypothesis ............................................................................................... 13 Thesis Organization ........................................................................................... 14 References ........................................................................................................ 16 CHAPTER 2 DEVELOPMENT OF SPARK PLASMA EROSION TO ENABLE SCALABLE DIRECT SYNTHESIS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE NANO-PARTICULATE MATERIALS FOR ENERGY STORAGE APPLICATIONS ...................................................................................................... 19 Abstract ........................................................................................................ 19 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 20 Experimental Methods ....................................................................................... 23 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................ 25 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 34 iv Page References ........................................................................................................ 35 CHAPTER 3 INFLUENCE OF ELECTRODE COMPOSITION ON SPARK PLASMA PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR ALLOY NANO- PARTICLES ........................................................................................................ 36 Abstract ........................................................................................................ 36 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 37 Experimental Methods ........................................................................................ 39 Results ........................................................................................................ 41 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 50 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 54 References ........................................................................................................ 54 CHAPTER 4 SPARK PLASMA PROCESSING IN A HYDROCARBON DIELECTRIC FOR IN SITU FORMATION OF CARBON CORE/SHELL NANO-PARTICLES ................................................................................................. 56 Abstract ........................................................................................................ 56 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 57 Experimental Methods ........................................................................................ 58 Results ........................................................................................................ 61 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 66 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 69 References ........................................................................................................ 69 CHAPTER 5 SPARK PLASMA EROSION OF SILICON AND TIN ALLOY NANO-PARTICLES FOR HIGH CAPACITY ANODES IN LITHIUM ION BATTERIES ........................................................................................................ 71 v Page Abstract ........................................................................................................ 71 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 72 Experimental Methods ........................................................................................ 75 Results ........................................................................................................ 77 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 81 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 83 References ........................................................................................................ 83 CHAPTER 6 SPARK PLASMA EROSION OF CARBON-COATED TIN NANO-PARTICLES FOR HIGH CAPACITY ANODES IN LITHIUM ION BATTERIES ..................................................................................................... 85 Abstract ........................................................................................................ 85 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 86 Experimental Methods ........................................................................................ 88 Results ........................................................................................................ 91 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 96 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 98 References ........................................................................................................ 98 CHAPTER 7 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................. 100 Summary ............................................................................................................. 100 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 101 Future Work ........................................................................................................ 102 APPENDIX A ........................................................................................................... 103 vi Page APPENDIX B ........................................................................................................... 107 APPENDIX C ........................................................................................................... 111 vii LIST OF FIGURES Page CHAPTER 1 Figure 1 Volumetric and gravimetric energy density comparison of battery types .......................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2 Ragone plot of current electrochemical energy storage devices and USABC goals ...........................................................................................