The Effects of Thermal Annealing on the Electrochemical Performance of Cu -Doped H3PO4 Activated Graphite Anode Material for Applications in Batteries

Abstract

This study utilised the remarkable qualities of graphite that has been activated with H₃PO₄, doped with Cu using the hydrothermal and the drop casting techniques and then annealed at 400 ^oC and 250 ^oC in order investigate the electrochemical performance of the composite at these annealing temperatures. To optimise the annealing parameters for advantageous uses in lithium-ion batteries, activating graphite with H₃PO₄, doped with Cu is necessary. Also in the areas of energy conservation and battery innovation, the effects of thermal annealing on the electrochemical characteristics of Copper-doped H₃PO₄ activated graphite anode material are highly relevant. The composite Cu_0.1:(H₃PO₄C)_0.9 @ 250 ^oC ultimately exhibits superior specific capacitance, energy density, and power density, rendering it a more fitting anode material for electrochemical applications. The comparatively higher power density of the Cu_0.1:(H₃PO₄C)_0.9 @ 400 ^oC sample is mostly explained by its lower equivalent series resistance. The GCD characterization results, which indicated that Cu²⁺ insertion (which causes the voltage to decrease) and extraction (which causes the voltage to increase) into and out of the H₃PO₄C anode are the primary causes of the changes in the charging voltage, and is supported by the cyclic voltammetry results, which demonstrate that redox currents are only set up in this voltage range with an oxidation peak around 0.6 V.