Ultrathin Graphite Foam:
A Three-Dimensional Conductive
Network for Battery Electrodes
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Abstract
We report the use of free-standing, lightweight, and
highly conductive
ultrathin graphite foam (UGF), loaded with lithium iron phosphate
(LFP), as a cathode in a lithium ion battery. At a high charge/discharge
current density of 1280 mA g<sup>–1</sup>, the specific capacity
of the LFP loaded on UGF was 70 mAh g<sup>–1</sup>, while LFP
loaded on Al foil failed. Accounting for the total mass of the electrode,
the maximum specific capacity of the UGF/LFP cathode was 23% higher
than that of the Al/LFP cathode and 170% higher than that of the Ni-foam/LFP
cathode. Using UGF, both a higher rate capability and specific capacity
can be achieved simultaneously, owing to its conductive (∼1.3
× 10<sup>5</sup> S m<sup>–1</sup> at room
temperature) and three-dimensional lightweight (∼9.5 mg cm<sup>–3</sup>) graphitic structure. Meanwhile, UGF presents excellent
electrochemical stability comparing to that of Al and Ni foils, which
are generally used as conductive substrates in lithium ion batteries.
Moreover, preparation of the UGF electrode was facile, cost-effective,
and compatible with various electrochemically active materials