Abstract:We report in this article the systematical acquisition of physico-chemical parameters for two newly discovered halloysite (Hal) minerals from Shiyan and Tongling in China. As the comparative reference, the data from Hal in Linfen, Chenxi, and the salt lake in Australia (samples were abbreviated as Hal-AU, Hal-SY, Hal-LF, Hal-CX and Hal-TL, respectively) were also investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetry (DSC-TG), X-ray fluorescence, surface zeta potential measurements and N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The newly found minerals were probably formed in hydrothermal leaching and sedimentary circumstances. The Hal-SY contains 7 Å-halloysite and dickite, while Hal-TL contains 10 Å-halloysite with some alunite (similar with Hal-CX). Other impurities found in the samples include quartz, gibbsite, iron oxide and anatase. All of them showed tubular morphology with diameter in the range of 30-90 nm and a length of 300-2500 nm, while the Hal-SY has the largest inner diameter to about 150 nm. Specific surface areas varied from 26.0~59.0 m 2 ·g −1 . In addition, maximum CEC (cation exchange capacity) of the newly found Hal was about 40 cmol/kg, while that of Hal-AU was relatively low (8 cmol/kg) due to the sedimentary nature of Salt Lake circumstances. The surface charge was predominantly negative over most of the relevant pH range (>2.0). It can be concluded that the different morphology and impurity content of halloysite will greatly affect the surface area, pore volume, and cationic exchange capacity (CEC) of the minerals.

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In this paper, a cost-effective strategy for fabricating silicon-carbon composites was designed to further improve the electrochemical performance and commercialization prospects of Si anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Silicon-carbon fibers (CFs) were prepared by loading Si nanoparticles (SiNPs) on interconnected carbon fibers via an electrospinning technique (SiNPs@CFs). The Si nanoparticles were obtained by the reduction reaction of natural clay minerals. As a flexible anode for LIBs, the SiNPs@CFs anode demonstrated a reversible capacity of 1238.1 mAh·g −1 and a capacity retention of 77% after 300 cycles (in contrast to the second cycle) at a current density of 0.5 A·g −1 . With a higher current density of 5.0 A·g −1 , the electrode showed a specific capacity of 528.3 mAh·g −1 after 1000 cycles and exhibited a superior rate capability compared to Si nanoparticles. The excellent electrochemical properties were attributed to the construction of flexible electrodes and the composite comprising carbon fibers, which lessened the volume expansion and improved the conductivity of the system.

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