Severe deformation, thermal runaway, and low ionic migration
do
harm to the applications of silicon. Herein, a negative thermal expansion
material of LiTi2(PO4)3 (LTP) with
high ionic conductivity was synthesized and utilized to modify nanoscaled
Si, and its effects were investigated. Si modified with 3 wt % LTP
(SL3) shows the best performance, and its discharge capacities retain
849.4 and 410.9 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 2 A/g as temperatures are
25 and 60 °C, respectively, about 245.4 and 399.9% higher than
those of Si. At 60 °C, the diffusion coefficient of lithium ions
in Si is increased by 26 times, while the voltage difference between
the main redox peaks, charge transfer resistance, and strain of the
SL3 are 0.43 V, 171.4 Ω/cm2, and 211 με,
respectively, around 15.7, 94.8, and 45.3 lower than those of the
Si. The released heat of SL3 is declined to 175.4 J/g, about 85.9%
that of the Si. The improvement mechanism of Si by LTP is discussed.
It provides a path for enhancing the performance and safety of materials
by decreasing heat and deformation hazards, improving the interface,
and intensifying transfer.