Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes

In ball milling, the process parameters are decisive in influencing the quality and performance of the final ball-milled product, and crucial but often neglected is the ratio of the grinding balls in terms of their size. Here, for a given number of large grinding balls, the ratio of large to small o...

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Main Authors: Ranlu Zheng, Wei Wu, Miao Hu, Bo Li, Yongliang Tang, Hongxiang Deng, Xiaotao Zu, Xia Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-06-01
Series:Nanotechnology and Precision Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/10.0034696
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author Ranlu Zheng
Wei Wu
Miao Hu
Bo Li
Yongliang Tang
Hongxiang Deng
Xiaotao Zu
Xia Xiang
author_facet Ranlu Zheng
Wei Wu
Miao Hu
Bo Li
Yongliang Tang
Hongxiang Deng
Xiaotao Zu
Xia Xiang
author_sort Ranlu Zheng
collection DOAJ
description In ball milling, the process parameters are decisive in influencing the quality and performance of the final ball-milled product, and crucial but often neglected is the ratio of the grinding balls in terms of their size. Here, for a given number of large grinding balls, the ratio of large to small ones is set to 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 by altering the number of small ones, and how this affects the morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene nanosheets is investigated. The results show that changing the ball ratio causes distinct changes in the morphology, structure, and properties of the graphene nanosheets. Increasing the number of small (6 mm) grinding balls decreases the nanosheet grain size monotonically; meanwhile, the crystal plane spacing, defect density, and specific surface area increase and then decrease, but the graphitization degree decreases and then increases. Ball-milled samples are then used as anodes for lithium-ion batteries, and both the specific capacity and rate capability exhibit the same trend of increase and then decrease. The ball ratio of 1:3 gives the best electrochemical performance, i.e., a reversible specific capacity of 262.09 mA ⋅ h/g at a current density of 100 mA/g, and even after 2000 cycles at 2000 mA/g, the reversible specific capacity is 87.4% of the optimal value.
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spelling doaj-art-d33d73ac9be44f8a9242877b280f791d2025-08-20T01:59:34ZengAIP Publishing LLCNanotechnology and Precision Engineering2589-55402025-06-0182023011023011-910.1063/10.0034696Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizesRanlu Zheng0Wei Wu1Miao Hu2Bo Li3Yongliang Tang4Hongxiang Deng5Xiaotao Zu6Xia Xiang7School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, ChinaSchool of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, ChinaSchool of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, ChinaYangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, ChinaSchool of Physical and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, ChinaSchool of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, ChinaSchool of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, ChinaSchool of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, ChinaIn ball milling, the process parameters are decisive in influencing the quality and performance of the final ball-milled product, and crucial but often neglected is the ratio of the grinding balls in terms of their size. Here, for a given number of large grinding balls, the ratio of large to small ones is set to 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 by altering the number of small ones, and how this affects the morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene nanosheets is investigated. The results show that changing the ball ratio causes distinct changes in the morphology, structure, and properties of the graphene nanosheets. Increasing the number of small (6 mm) grinding balls decreases the nanosheet grain size monotonically; meanwhile, the crystal plane spacing, defect density, and specific surface area increase and then decrease, but the graphitization degree decreases and then increases. Ball-milled samples are then used as anodes for lithium-ion batteries, and both the specific capacity and rate capability exhibit the same trend of increase and then decrease. The ball ratio of 1:3 gives the best electrochemical performance, i.e., a reversible specific capacity of 262.09 mA ⋅ h/g at a current density of 100 mA/g, and even after 2000 cycles at 2000 mA/g, the reversible specific capacity is 87.4% of the optimal value.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/10.0034696
spellingShingle Ranlu Zheng
Wei Wu
Miao Hu
Bo Li
Yongliang Tang
Hongxiang Deng
Xiaotao Zu
Xia Xiang
Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes
Nanotechnology and Precision Engineering
title Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes
title_full Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes
title_fullStr Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes
title_short Optimization of morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of ball-milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes
title_sort optimization of morphology structure and electrochemical properties of ball milled graphene through modulating the ratio of grinding balls with different sizes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/10.0034696
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