Rationally Designed Silicon Nanostructures as Anode Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is promising for high capacity anodes in lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, low working potential, and natural abundance. However, there are two main drawbacks that impede its further practical applications. One is the huge volume expansion generating during lithiation and delithiation progresses, which leads to severe structural pulverization and subsequently rapid capacity fading of the electrode. The other is the relatively low intrinsic electronic conductivity, therefore, seriously impacting the rate performance. In the past decades, numerous efforts have been devoted for improving the cycling stability and rate capability by rational designs of different nanostructures of Si materials and incorporations with some conductive agents. In this review, the authors summarize the exciting recent research works and focus on not only the synthesis techniques, but also the composition strategies of silicon nanostructures. The advantages and disadvantages of the nanostructures as well as the perspective of this research field are also discussed. We aim to give some reference for engineering application on Si anodes in lithium ion batteries.

Application of Magnetic Resonance Techniques to the In Situ Characterization of Li-Ion Batteries: A Review

“…A superior gravimetric capacity of over 3000 mAh/g is a very attractive benefit of silicon compared to graphite (372 mAh/g) [50]. However, dramatic volume expansion (approximately 300%) during lithiation leads to the separation of silicon particles from the electrically conductive carbon matrix after multiple cycles, which is a significant drawback [63]. Additionally, this physical instability disrupts the solid electrolyte interphase that forms on the surface of silicon particles, promoting continued breakdown and loss of the electrolyte.…”

Understanding the Time‐Dependent Mechanical Behavior of Bimodal Nanoporous Si–Mg Films via Nanoindentation

“…The motivation for this study comes from a combination of preliminary data observed by Jiang et al and from lithium‐ion battery research . While silicon is an attractive anode material for lithium‐ion batteries due to its high charge capacity, it also suffers from cracking and pulverization during cycling .…”

A Flexible Si@C Electrode with Excellent Stability Employing an MXene as a Multifunctional Binder for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…[4,5] Several strategies have been proposed to address these problems. From am ateriald esign viewpoint, the principal approaches are to reduce the silicon particle size to the nano-scale, [6,7] create ap orous structure, [8][9][10] and combine silicon with conducting materials (typically carbon materials such as graphene, [11][12][13][14] carbon nanotubes, [15] amorphous carbon, [16,17] and various carbon compounds). [18,19] Furthermore, regarding electrode fabrication, the binder is an important component of Si-based electrodes.…”