Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of the Application of CoZn Nanostructures as Anode Materials

Abstract

This study aims to obtain CoZn nanostructures using the electrochemical deposition method and to estimate the applicability of the resulting nanostructures as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive and X-ray phase analysis were used as the main methods for characterizing the obtained nanostructures. A study of the morphological properties of the synthesized nanostructures revealed that the variation of the synthesis conditions results in the formation of structures with different degrees of structural ordering and morphology. During the evaluation of the phase composition of the synthesized CoZn nanostructures with variation in the applied potential differences, the phase transformations’ dynamics were established, which can be written as follows: X-ray amorphous structures → Zn/CoO2 → Co2Zn11/Co/CoO2 → Co2Zn11/ZnO. Using the methods of phase analysis and mapping, an isotropic distribution of phases in the composition of nanostructures was established. In such a case, the formation of the Co2Zn11 phase occurs with an elevation in the concentration of cobalt from 8.9 to 29.3–31.1 at. % leads to the partial substitution of zinc ions by cobalt ions, followed by the formation of a cubic phase. The study of the morphological properties of the synthesized CoZn nanostructures afterlife tests showed differences in the degradation processes of nanowires triggered by the phase composition alteration.