Si-containing precursors for Si-based anode materials of Li-ion batteries: A review

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries with high energy density are in demand for consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale stationary energy storage. Si is one of the most promising anode materials due to its extremely high specific capacity. However, the full application of Si-based anode materials is limited by poor cycle life and rate capability resulted from low ionic/electronic conductivity and large volume change over cycling. In recent years, great progress has been made in improving the performance of Si anodes by employing nanotechnology. The preparation methods are essentially important, in which the precursors used are crucial to design and control the microstructure for the Si-based materials. In this review, we provide comprehensive summary and comment on different Si-containing precursors for preparation of nanosized Si-based anode materials and focus on the corresponding electrochemical performances in lithium-ion batteries. Bulk sized silicon, silicon wafer and silicon microparticles are generally used as starting materials to synthesize porous or nanosized silicon, and the routes for the synthesis are rather mature and commercially available. Silica is also commonly used to form silicon by conversion through a facile magnesiothermic reduction. Silica derivation from natural resources, especially from rice husks, is much more sustainable and lower cost than alternative methods, which attracts considerable research attention. In addition, gaseous Si-based sources like SiH4, Si2H6 and SiHxCly, liquid silicon sources like trisilane and phenylsilane and elemental silicon have successfully used to prepare nanosized or carbon-coated silicon. Further considerations on massive production possibility have also been presented. Si-Containing Precursors for Si-Based Anode Materials of Li-Ion Batteries AbstractLithium-ion batteries with high energy density and large power output are in demand for consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale stationary energy storage. Silicon is one of the most promising anode materials because it has 10 times higher specific capacity than that of the commercial graphitic carbon anode. Unfortunately, the practical utilization of silicon-based anode materials is still hindered by its low electronic conductivity and high capacity fading rate due to the large volume changes upon insertion and extraction of Li ions during cycling. Introducing porous structure, along with decreasing the dimension of Si-based materials to nanosize, is an effective way to address these problems. During the past decade, tremendous attention has been paid to improve Si anodes so as to give them better electrochemical performance. In this review, we focus the Si-containing precursors for preparation of Si-based anode materials.3

Top‐Down Synthesis of Silicon/Carbon Composite Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries: Mechanical Milling and Etching

“…Most of the reported electrochemical cycling performances of porous Si‐based anode materials prepared by combining HEMM of low‐cost Si sources and etching process were found to be stable with high reversible capacities above 1000 mAh g −1 . Several recently published review articles have largely discussed Si‐based anode materials for LIBs, but none of them focused mainly on low‐cost ball‐milling and etching routes for the synthesis of Si/C anodes for next‐generation LIBs. The following section highlights some recent advances made for the preparation of Si/C electrodes by combining simple, scalable, and low‐cost HEMM and etching processes.…”

In Operando Mechanism Analysis on Nanocrystalline Silicon Anode Material for Reversible and Ultrafast Sodium Storage

“…Compared with the commercial carbon‐based anodes with a relatively low theoretical capacity (below 380 mAh g −1 ) in LIBs, silicon (Si)‐based materials are particularly promising because of their extremely high reversible specific capacity (3590 mAh g −1 , corresponding to Li 15 Si 4 ) . Very excitingly, many previous theoretical calculations have predicted that Na can also alloy with Si to form NaSi (Si + Na + + e − ↔ NaSi), providing a specific capacity around 960 mAh g −1 .…”

Electrospun carbon-based nanostructured electrodes for advanced energy storage – A review

“…The latter also results in additional consumption of the electrolyte, low CE, and high resistance of ionic transport of the electrode, causing large decrease of electrode performance [104]. Previous studies have shown that nanostructured Si is beneficial for avoiding fracture and enhancing the cycle life when compared to bulk Si [105]. However, this approach still leads to unstable SEI film as a result of direct reaction of electrolyte with Si during alloying/de-alloying process [106].…”