Gas‐Phase Plasma Synthesis of Free‐Standing Silicon Nanoparticles for Future Energy Applications

Abstract

Silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) are considered as possible candidates for a wide spectrum of future technological applications. Research in the last decades has shown that plasmas are one of the most suitable environments for the synthesis of Si-NPs. This review discusses the unique size-dependent features of Si-NPs, and the fundamental mechanisms of nanoparticle formation in plasmas by highlighting major plasma synthesis techniques. In addition, the routes to achieve control on Si-NP morphology and chemistry in plasma environments will be discussed. We will review recent advancements in solar cell and lithium-ion battery applications of gas-phase plasma synthesized Si-NPs by highlighting key results from the literature. We will discuss further technological applications, where gasphase plasma synthesized Si-NPs can contribute, like water splitting and thermoelectrics.

Mini Review on Gas-Phase Synthesis for Energy Nanomaterials

“…Thermal plasma provides an extremely high temperature, which easily transforms the solid precursor into the vapor phase . Nonthermal plasma generates a comparatively low gas temperature with a relatively low power and processing rate Figure b shows the schematic of nonthermal plasma aerosol reactor .…”

“…The resulting gas mixture of precursors then undergoes nucleation and surface growth (e.g., condensation, coagulation). In addition to the thermal and nonthermal plasma reactors, other types have also been developed, such as microplasmas, microwave plasmas, remote plasma, and low pressure plasmas . The details of each type of plasma reactor can be found in the review by Dogan et al (2016) .…”

“…In addition to the thermal and nonthermal plasma reactors, other types have also been developed, such as microplasmas, microwave plasmas, remote plasma, and low pressure plasmas . The details of each type of plasma reactor can be found in the review by Dogan et al (2016) . The materials fabricated by plasma systems include pure metal, metal oxide, metal carbide, metal nitride, metal boride, composites, and carbon-based materials in the different forms of nanostructures, , which have great potential in the field of catalysis, photovoltaic, fuel cells, and other forms of energy storage.…”

Synthesis and Processing of Battery Materials: Giving it the Plasma Touch

“…In conventional techniques, Si‐NP synthesis involves multiple steps such as annealing, matrix removal by etching, and surface functionalization. On the other hand, plasma‐based processes facilitate high throughput in a single step, as illustrated in Figure 18 [21] …”

“…On the other hand, plasma-based processes facilitate high throughput in a single step, as illustrated in Figure 18. [21] Kambara et al synthesized silicon-based nanocomposites of core-shell structure from raw silicon powder using thermal plasma at a throughput of 6 g/minute. [66] The crystalline Si nanoparticles were surrounded by an amorphous carbon shell.…”