Method of preparing iron oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Provided are a method of preparing iron oxide nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles prepared thereby, and an anode material including the iron oxide nanoparticles.

Claims

1. A method of preparing oval shaped iron (III) oxide nanoparticles, the method comprising: preparing a ferric chloride (FeCl.sub.3) aqueous solution; preparing a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) aqueous solution; obtaining a mixed aqueous solution consisting of the ferric chloride (FeCl.sub.3) aqueous solution, the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) aqueous solution, and a sodium sulfate (Na.sub.2SO.sub.4) aqueous solution; reacting the mixed aqueous solution in an electric convection oven in a temperature range of 100 C. to 105 C. for 90 hours to 100 hours at atmospheric pressure to get a solid product; and cooling, washing, and drying the solid product to get a dried product, wherein a concentration of the FeCl.sub.3 aqueous solution is in a range of 2 M to 3 M, a concentration of the NaOH aqueous solution is in a range of 5 M to 6 M, a concentration of the Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 aqueous solution is in a range of 0.5 M to 1 M, and the dried product consists of iron (III) oxide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a volume ratio of the ferric chloride aqueous solution:the sodium hydroxide aqueous solution:the sodium sulfate aqueous solution is 10:9:x, where x satisfies 0<x<1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following drawings attached to the specification illustrate preferred examples of the present invention by example, and serve to enable technical concepts of the present invention to be further understood together with detailed description of the invention given below, and therefore the present invention should not be interpreted only with matters in such drawings.

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 are scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of iron oxide nanoparticles prepared by a method of the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 3 is a graph comparing the results of the measurement of capacities of secondary batteries prepared in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(4) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

(5) The present invention provides a method of preparing iron (III) oxide nanoparticles including: preparing a ferric chloride (FeCl.sub.3) aqueous solution; preparing a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) aqueous solution; mixing both aqueous solutions; adding a sodium sulfate (Na.sub.2SO.sub.4) aqueous solution while stirring a mixed aqueous solution prepared by the mixing; and reacting the mixed aqueous solution having the sodium sulfate aqueous solution added thereto in an electric convection oven.

(6) Specifically, in the method of the present invention, a concentration of the FeCl.sub.3 aqueous solution may be in a range of 2 M to 3 M and a concentration of the NaOH aqueous solution may be in a range of 5 M to 6 M. Also, a concentration of the Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 aqueous solution may be in a range of 0.5 M to 1 M, and for example, may be 0.6 M.

(7) In this case, when the concentration of the FeCl.sub.3 aqueous solution is 2 M or less or 3 M or more, metal oxide having a particle diameter of 1 m or more may be synthesized. Also, when the concentration of the NaOH aqueous solution is 6 M or more, a pH level of the synthesized aqueous solution may be increased and thus, metal oxide may not be synthesized. Furthermore, when the concentration of the Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 aqueous solution is 1M or more, metal oxide having a uniform shape may not be prepared. In this case, a sodium phosphate (Na.sub.2PO.sub.4) aqueous solution may be used instead of the Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 aqueous solution.

(8) In the method of the present invention, the ferric chloride aqueous solution, the sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, and the sodium sulfate aqueous solution may be mixed in a volume ratio of 10:9:x (where x satisfies 0<x<1).

(9) In this case, when the volume ratio of the ferric chloride aqueous solution to the sodium hydroxide aqueous solution is outside the above range, metal oxide may not be prepared. Also, when the volume ratio of the sodium sulfate aqueous solution is greater than 1, this may act as a factor that may change the shape of the metal oxide, and thus, particles having a very small diameter may be prepared.

(10) Furthermore, the reacting may be performed in a temperature range of 100 C. to 105 C., and may be performed at a temperature of 102 C. for 90 hours to 150 hours at atmospheric pressure, for example, about 90 hours to 100 hours. The method of the present invention may further include cooling a solid product obtained after the completion of the reaction, and then washing and drying the solid product. In this case, the washing may be sequentially performed using water and ethanol.

(11) Also, the present invention may provide iron oxide nanoparticles in which particle diameter and particle shape are uniformly controlled by the method of the present invention.

(12) Specifically, the particle size (diameter) of the iron oxide nanoparticles thus obtained may be in a range of 500 nm to 1 m. In a case where the particle diameter of the iron oxide nanoparticles is further decreased to less than 500 nm or is greater than 1 m, capacity retention ratio and cycle efficiency may be rapidly decreased during a charge and discharge process.

(13) Also, the particle shape of the iron oxide nanoparticles may be roughly round oval.

(14) As described above, according to the present invention, iron oxide nanoparticles may be prepared, in which the particle diameter and particle shape are controlled only by the simple preparation process, and a secondary battery with low capacity loss even during the numerous charge/discharge processes may be prepared using the iron oxide nanoparticles.

(15) That is, with respect to typical iron oxide nanoparticles, capacity may decrease and exfoliation of an electrode may occur due to volume expansion during a charge and discharge process. However, in the present invention, iron oxide particles having a very small diameter (a few nm) may form oval-shaped particles having a diameter of 1 m or less, and at this time, tiny spaces in the particles may act as a buffer for the volume expansion of individual metal oxide particles having a diameter of a few nm (see FIG. 1). Therefore, typical limitations, such as the decrease in capacity during the charge and discharge process and the exfoliation of the electrode, may be improved.

(16) Also, the present invention may provide an anode material including the iron oxide nanoparticles.

(17) In this case, the anode material may further selectively include a conductive agent, a binder, or a filler, in addition to the iron oxide nanoparticles.

(18) The iron oxide nanoparticles may be added in an amount of 40 wt % to 65 wt % based on a total weight of the anode material. In the case that the amount of the iron oxide nanoparticles is 40 wt % or less, high capacity may not be achieved. In the case in which the amount of the iron oxide nanoparticles is 65 wt % or more, cycle stability may not be realized due to the limitation that the exfoliation of the electrode may occur in an initial second cycle.

(19) Furthermore, the conductive agent may be typically added in an amount ranging from 1 wt % to 30 wt % based on the total weight of the anode material. The conductive agent is not particularly limited so long as it does not generate chemical changes in the battery as well as having conductivity. Examples of the conductive agent may be graphite such as natural graphite and artificial graphite; carbon black such as acetylene black, Ketjen black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and thermal black; conductive fibers such as carbon fibers and metal fibers; metal powder such as fluorocarbon powder, aluminum powder and nickel powder; conductive whiskers such as zinc oxide whiskers and potassium titanate whiskers; conductive metal oxide such as titanium oxide; a conductive material such as a polyphenylene derivative, etc.

(20) The binder is a component that assists in bonding between the iron oxide nanoparticles and the conductive agent and bonding with respect to a current collector, and the binder may be typically added in an amount ranging from 1 wt % to 30 wt % based on the total weight of the anode material. Examples of the binder may be polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, regenerated cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), sulfonated EPDM, styrene-butadiene rubber, fluorine rubber, various copolymers, etc.

(21) The filler is selectively used as a component that prevents the expansion of the electrode and is not particularly limited so long as it does not generate chemical changes in the battery as well as being a fibrous material. Examples of the filler may be olefin-based polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene; and fibrous materials such as glass fibers and carbon fibers.

(22) Also, the present invention may provide an anode for an electrochemical device in which the current collector is coated with the anode material.

(23) For example, a slurry is prepared by dissolving the anode material of the present invention in a solvent, an anode current collector is coated with the slurry, and the anode may then be prepared by drying and rolling the anode current collector.

(24) The anode current collector is not particularly limited so long as it does not generate chemical changes in the battery as well as having conductivity. Examples of the anode current collector may be at least any one selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel, copper, titanium, and an alloy thereof. In general, the anode current collector may have a thickness of 3 m to 500 m.

(25) Also, the present invention may provide an electrochemical device composed of the anode including the anode material, a cathode, a separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution.

(26) The electrochemical device may be a lithium secondary battery.

(27) In this case, the electrochemical device may be prepared by a typical method.

EXAMPLES

(28) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail, according to examples and comparative examples. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this description will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

Example 1

1-1. Preparation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

(29) A 2 M ferric chloride (FeCl.sub.3) aqueous solution, a 6 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) aqueous solution, and a 0.6 M sodium sulfate (Na.sub.2SO.sub.4) aqueous solution were introduced into a reactor at a volume ratio of 10:9:1, and the aqueous solutions were then uniformly mixed using an impeller. The mixed solution was put in an electric convection oven at 102 C. and reacted for 96 hours to obtain a solid product.

(30) The solid product was cooled, and then sequentially washed using water and ethanol. Thereafter, iron oxide nanoparticles (particle diameter: 500 nm) were obtained by drying the product in a vacuum drier (see FIG. 2).

1-2. Preparation of Battery

(31) The iron oxide nanoparticles prepared above, a conductive agent (Super P), and a binder (KF 1100) were mixed at a weight ratio of 65:10:25 to prepare a slurry. A copper current collector was coated with the slurry and then dried in a vacuum oven at 120 C. for 12 hours or more.

(32) A lithium metal was used as a counter electrode, and 1 M LiPF.sub.6/ethylene carbonate (EC):ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) (volume ratio 1:1) was used as an electrolyte to prepare a coin-type half cell.

Example 2

(33) The iron oxide nanoparticles prepared in Example 1-1, a conductive agent (Super P), and a binder (KF 1100) were mixed at a weight ratio of 40:30:30 to prepare a slurry. A copper current collector was coated with the slurry and then dried in a vacuum oven at 120 C. for 12 hours or more.

(34) A lithium metal was used as a counter electrode, and 1 M LiPF.sub.6/ethylene carbonate (EC):ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) (volume ratio 1:1) was used as an electrolyte to prepare a coin-type half cell.

Comparative Example 1

(35) 50 nm iron oxide nanoparticles prepared by a typical method, a conductive agent (Super P), and a binder (KF 1100) were mixed at a weight ratio of 65:10:25 to prepare a slurry. A copper current collector was coated with the slurry and then dried in a vacuum oven at 120 C. for 12 hours or more.

(36) A lithium metal was used as a counter electrode, and 1 M LiPF.sub.6/ethylene carbonate (EC):ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) (volume ratio 1:1) was used as an electrolyte to prepare a coin-type half cell.

(37) Experiment 1

(38) Performance of the secondary batteries prepared in Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 1 were evaluated as follows: The batteries were charged and discharged in a charge and discharge range of 2.0V to 0.005V (vs. Li/Li.sup.+) for 10 cycles, and at this time, current density was 0.1 C. The results of initial charge and discharge efficiencies of the secondary batteries are presented in Table 1 below. Also, the results of charge and discharge using the battery of Example 2 are presented in a graph of FIG. 3.

(39) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 1.sup.st Discharge capacity 1318 mAh/g 1460 mAh/g 1481 mAh/g cycle Charge capacity 1008 mAh/g 1027 mAh/g 750 mAh/g 2.sup.nd Discharge capacity 1004 mAh/g 1044 mAh/g 841 mAh/g cycle Charge capacity 963 mAh/g 993 mAh/g 312 mAh/g 10.sup.th cycle capacity 904 mAh/g 894 mAh/g 62 mAh/g Capacity retention ratio 93.8% 92.3% 19.9%

(40) As illustrated in Table 1, it may be confirmed that the batteries prepared in Examples 1 and 2 maintained a capacity retention ratio of 90% or more even after the 10.sup.th cycle, but the capacity retention ratio of the battery of Comparative Example 1 prepared using the 50 nm iron oxide nanoparticles was rapidly decreased after the 10.sup.th cycle.