Lithium Germanate (Li2GeO3): A High-Performance Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

A simple, cost-effective, and easily scalable molten salt method for the preparation of Li2GeO3 as a new type of high-performance anode for lithium-ion batteries is reported. The Li2GeO3 exhibits a unique porous architecture consisting of micrometer-sized clusters (secondary particles) composed of numerous nanoparticles (primary particles) and can be used directly without further carbon coating which is a common exercise for most electrode materials. The new anode displays superior cycling stability with a retained charge capacity of 725mAhg(-1) after 300 cycles at 50mAg(-1). The electrode also offers excellent rate capability with a capacity recovery of 810mAhg(-1) (94% retention) after 35 cycles of ascending steps of current in the range of 25-800mAg(-1) and finally back to 25mAg(-1). This work emphasizes the importance of exploring new electrode materials without carbon coating as carbon-coated materials demonstrate several drawbacks in full devices. Therefore, this study provides a method and a new type of anode with high reversibility and long cycle stability.