Fabrication of Carbon/Silicon Composite as Lithium-ion Anode with Enhanced Cycling Stability. (1st September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Jialiang; Dysart, Arthur D.; Kim, Dong Hee; Saraswat, Ram; Shaver, Gregory M.; Pol, Vilas G.
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 247(2017)
• Page Start: 626
• Page End: 633
• Publication Date: 2017-09-01
• Subjects: Silicon -- lithium ion batteries -- energy storage -- nanoparticles -- carbon composite; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.06.178
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: In this work, a micro-carbon/nano-silicon hybrid material is synthesized via a scalable and practical solid-state process for rechargeable Li-ion battery anodes. The carbon encapsulated silicon composite is produced by a two-step thermal reduction of commercial wheat flour. This silicon-carbon hybrid demonstrates a stable gravimetric capacity of ca. 1500 mAh g −1 Si (equivalently, 700 mAh g −1 composite mass) from galvanostatic cycling for 90 cycles at a cycling rate of C/20. Multi-rate cycling shows the silicon-carbon hybrid performs with stable gravimetric capacities of 830 mAh g −1 at C/10 and 300 mAh g −1 at 1C. After prolonged cycling, the carbon-silicon hybrid further demonstrates superior mechanical and electrochemical resilience when compared to unencapsulated silicon electrode: greater composite conductivity (ca. 4 times larger at full lithiation), lower electrode deformation, and less SEI formation.