Surface-Treated Graphene for Electrode Conductive Aids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Graphene powders with catechol groups exhibit low oxidation resistance due to electrochemical instability, leading to poor dispersibility and aggregation, which hinders their use as conductive aids in electrodes.
Innovation Solution
Surface-treated graphene with a compound represented by a specific general formula, attached to the graphene, which improves dispersibility and maintains high electric conductivity and electrochemical stability, comprising a phenolic hydroxy group-free benzene-based aromatic group, an alkylene or alkenoxyalkylene group, and nitrogen-containing compounds, enhancing oxidation resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If flaky graphite is produced by thermal expansion and reduction of oxidized graphite, then the specific surface area is increased, but the dispersibility deteriorates due to aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
A surface treatment agent with a specific chemical structure (comprising a phenolic hydroxy group-free benzene-based aromatic group, alkylene or alkenoxyalkylene group, and nitrogen-containing compound) is introduced as an intermediary between graphene sheets. This surface treatment agent prevents direct contact and aggregation between graphene sheets while maintaining their high specific surface area, thereby resolving the contradiction between increased surface area and deteriorated dispersibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material structure where the surface treatment agent is attached to the graphene surface. This composite structure combines the excellent electrical conductivity and high surface area of graphene with the dispersibility-enhancing properties of the surface treatment agent, achieving both high specific surface area and good dispersibility simultaneously
2Reliability
If a compound with catechol group is used as surface treatment agent, then the dispersibility is improved, but the oxidation resistance deteriorates due to electrochemical instability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the surface treatment agent by selecting compounds with phenolic hydroxy group-free benzene-based aromatic groups, alkylene or alkenoxyalkylene groups, and nitrogen-containing compounds. This parameter change eliminates the electrochemically unstable catechol group while retaining the dispersibility-enhancing properties, thereby achieving both good dispersibility and high oxidation resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of surface treatment agents (which can be electrochemically unstable) into a benefit by carefully selecting stable nitrogen-containing compounds. The surface treatment agent continues to provide dispersibility improvement while the nitrogen-containing structure ensures oxidation resistance, turning a potential problem into a solution
3Reliability
If graphene is used as conductive aid, then the electric conductivity is improved, but the electrochemical stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality modification by attaching surface treatment agents only to the graphene surface while maintaining the bulk graphene structure intact. This allows the graphene to retain its excellent electrical conductivity in the bulk, while the surface treatment agent provides electrochemical stability at the interface, resolving the contradiction between conductivity and stability
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 surface-treated graphene effectively suppresses aggregation while maintaining high electric conductivity and electrochemical stability, making it suitable for use as a conductive aid in electrodes.
Implementation Method 1
a surface-treated graphene containing a graphene and a compound represented by the following general formula (1) or a neutralized salt thereof attached to the graphene
Implementation Method 2
A graphene has excellent electric, heat, optical, and mechanical characteristics
Implementation Method 3
The surface-treated graphene of the present invention can effectively suppress aggregation of the graphene while maintaining high electric conductivity and high electrochemical stability
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a graphene which has high dispersibility, high electrical conductivity and oxidation resistance namely a graphene which has high electrochemical stability. In order to achieve the above-described purpose, a surface-treated graphene according to the present invention is obtained by having a compound represented by general formula (1) or a neutralized salt thereof adhere to a graphene. (In general formula (1), A represents a benzene-based aromatic group with a condensation number of 1-4, which has no phenolic hydroxy group; R1 represents a direct bond, a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1-12 carbon atoms, or a divalent organic group having 1-12 carbon atoms, which has a structure selected from the group consisting of an ether bond, an ester bond, an alcohol structure and a carbonyl structure; each of R2 and R3 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1-12 carbon atoms, or an organic group having 1-12 carbon atoms, which has a structure selected from the group consisting of an ether bond, an ester bond, an alcohol structure and a carbonyl structure; and n represents an integer of 1-6.)