Nanostructured Germanium anode for lithium-ion batteries for aerospace technologies

Lithium-ion batteries are the major power source for spacecraft such as probes, low Earth orbit satellites and rovers. Their operational lifetime constitutes the main limit to the operability of these devices. Our group focuses on the research and development of thin nano-structured Germanium films to be used as anode for lithium-ion batteries exploiting the Ge high theoretical specific capacity. The thin Germanium film is realized by means of a Low Energy Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition and then it is nano-structured using hydrofluoric acid electrochemical etching. In the present work, the nano-structurization process is introduced since it leads to promising results.