Silicon nanowire growth on carbon cloth for flexible Li-ion battery anodes. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Storan, Dylan; Ahad, Syed Abdul; Forde, Rebecca; Kilian, Seamus; Adegoke, Temilade Esther; Kennedy, Tadhg; Geaney, Hugh; Ryan, Kevin M.
• Is Part Of: Materials today energy. Volume 27(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Vapor-liquid-solid -- Flexibe electrodes -- High mass loading -- High areal capacity -- Stable cycling; Energy development -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Energy development; Energy industries; Energy policy; Power resources; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2022.101030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-6069

Abstract

Abstract: Binder and conductive additive-free Si nanowires (NWs) grown directly on the current collector have shown great potential as next generation Li-ion battery anodes. However, low active material mass loadings and consequentially low areal capacities have remained a challenge in their development. Herein, we report the high-density growth of Si NWs on carbon cloth (CC) for use as Li-ion battery anodes. The NW growth reactions were carried out using a modified, glassware-based solvent vapor growth (SVG) process. Optimized growth conditions were applied to CC substrates to generate flexible Si NW anodes for Li-ion batteries. Battery testing revealed high areal charge and discharge capacities (>2 mAh/cm 2 ) compared to Si NWs grown on stainless steel (SS) substrates (∼0.3 mAh/cm 2 ) and stable long-term cycling with 80% capacity retention after 200 cycles. The findings reported herein represent a significant advancement in the field in terms of achievable areal capacity enabled by a low-cost glassware-based system. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: High-density synthesis of silicon nanowires on a flexible carbon cloth current collector. Improved areal capacity compared to silicon nanowires grown on stainless steel. Areal capacity improvement due to higher silicon nanowire mass loading and electrochemically active current collector. Formation of porous silicon nanowire structure enables stable capacity retention over 200 cycles.