Graphene Monoxide Electrode Composites for Scalable Oxygen-Rich Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing graphene monoxide (GmO) are not scalable and often result in nanogram quantities, limiting its industrial application, particularly in electrochemical cells where high oxygen content and specific functional groups are required for enhanced performance.
Innovation Solution
A process is developed to produce GmO-based composites, specifically GmGT materials, with controlled oxygen content and functional groups, using a scalable method that involves mixing carbon and oxygen sources with transition metal compounds, followed by thermal processing to achieve crystalline GmO phases, allowing for gram-scale production compatible with industrial upscaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods are used to produce graphene monoxide, then oxygen content and functional groups are achieved, but production quantity is limited to nanogram scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the production parameters by using a solvothermal method with specific solvents (water, alcohols, carboxylic acids) and controlling temperature (80-200°C) and pressure conditions to transform the production scale from nanogram to gram quantities while maintaining the 1:1 oxygen-to-carbon ratio characteristic of graphene monoxide
Solution Approach 2:
The patent produces composite materials containing graphene monoxide combined with metal oxides (TiO2, ZnO, MoO3, etc.) through solvothermal processing, which enables scalable production while preserving the unique properties of GmO and creating materials suitable for industrial applications in electrochemical cells and catalysis
2Quantity of substance
If graphene oxide is heat treated to produce reduced graphene oxide, then oxygen content is reduced, but the distinctive high oxygen content and functional groups of graphene monoxide are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the typically harmful exothermic decomposition of graphene oxide into a beneficial process by conducting solvothermal treatment in controlled solvent environments, which stabilizes the high oxygen content material and prevents uncontrolled decomposition while enabling scalable production of graphene monoxide with retained functional groups
3Reliability
If graphene monoxide is produced for electrochemical cell applications, then performance is enhanced, but dendrite growth occurs during lithium ion cycling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite materials by combining graphene monoxide with metal oxides (particularly TiO2, ZnO, and MoO3) to form stable structures that prevent dendrite growth during lithium ion cycling while maintaining the high electrochemical performance, capacity retention, and fast charging capabilities of pure GmO
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The GmGT materials exhibit improved performance in electrochemical cells with faster charging, higher gravimetric capacity, low-temperature operation, and reduced Li dendrite growth, making them suitable for various applications beyond electrochemistry, including catalysis, adsorption, and energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
followed by thermal processing to achieve crystalline GmO phases
Implementation Method 2
thermal processing to achieve crystalline GmO phases
Implementation Method 3
Graphene oxide powder has a large exotherm between 150-250° C. due to the various oxygen functional groups that are present on the graphene oxide
Data Source
AI summary
A composition of graphene-based nanomaterials characterized by at least one area of one atomic layer of graphene monoxide, wherein at least a portion of oxygen molecules present in the graphene monoxide are incorporated into specific crystalline structural moieties, methods of making the same, electrodes in electrochemical devices incorporating the same, and compositions of lithium and graphene monoxide containing materials that result from cycling said electrodes.