Non-solvent and Low-temperature Preparation of Porous Silicon-carbon Anodes for Enhanced Lithium Storage

doi:10.15541/jim20250080

Abstract

Abstract:

To solve the problems of large volume expansion, poor cycling stability, low electrical conductivity and high energy consumption of silicon-anode materials, a porous silicon-carbon anode material (P-Si@G@C) was prepared by a non-solvent low-temperature method with nano-silicon as active substance, graphite as conductive carrier, asphalt as carbon precursor, and potassium chloride as pore-forming agent. Structure and performance of P-Si@G@C anode were systematically studied by comparing with a series of silicon-carbon anodes. The results showed that insertion of silica nanoparticles in graphite matrix (Si@G) could improve the electrical conductivity of the whole material which is beneficial for electron transport, and the graphite matrix could alleviate the volume expansion of silica nanoparticles. Then the porous carbon shell coated on the surface of Si@G greatly reduced the volume expansion of nano-silicon, and improved the diffusion rate of lithium ion and electron transport rate. Compared with Si@G and unperforated Si@G@C anodes, the P-Si@G@C anode presented the best electrical performance with initial Coulombic efficiency of 85.8%. At the current density of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 A·g^-1, the specific capacities of P-Si@G@C anode were 1403.6, 1291.7, 1206.1, 1093.6, 868.4, and 609.5 mAh·g^-1, respectively. Its recovery rate of specific capacity reached 98.3%, displaying excellent rate performance. The specific capacity still remained 770.7 mAh·g^-1 after 200 cycles at 1.0 A·g^-1, showing good long-cycle stability.

Key words: lithium-ion battery, silicon-carbon anode, dual-carbon coating, porous shell, lithium storage mechanism

CLC Number:

O646

YI Guogang, WU Yaoying, ZU Xihong. Non-solvent and Low-temperature Preparation of Porous Silicon-carbon Anodes for Enhanced Lithium Storage[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(12): 1379-1386.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 (a) Schematic of preparation of P-Si@G@C composite; (b, c) SEM images of (b) Si@G@C and (c) P-Si@G@C

Fig. 2 (a) TEM image, (b) HRTEM image, (c) SAED pattern, (d-h) TEM image and their corresponding EDS elemental maps of P-Si@G@C

Fig. 3 Structure characterization of different composite materials (a) XRD patterns; (b) Raman spectra; (c) Thermogravimetric curves; (d) N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms

Fig. 4 XPS spectra of P-Si@G@C (a) Total; (b) Si2p; (c) C1s; (d) O1s

Fig. 5 Electrochemical performance of batteries with different anode materials (a) CV curves of initial 4 cycles of P-Si@G@C battery; (b) Charging-discharging curves of initial 3 cycles of P-Si@G@C battery; (c) Rate performances and (d) EIS spectra of Si@G, Si@G@C and P-Si@G@C batteries

Fig. 6 (a) Cycling performances of Si@G, Si@G@C and P-Si@G@C batteries at 1.0 A·g-1 for 100 cycles; (b) Long cycling performance of P-Si@G@C battery at 1.0 A·g-1 for 200 cycles

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