Stable and Efficient Li-Ion Battery Anodes Prepared from Polymer-Derived Silicon Oxycarbide–Carbon Nanotube Shell/Core Composites

Abstract

We demonstrate the synthesis and electrochemical performance of polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide−carbon nanotube (SiOC−CNT) composites as a stable lithium intercalation material for secondary battery applications. Composite synthesis was achieved through controlled thermal decomposition of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl 1,3,5,7-tetravinyl cyclotetrasiloxane (TTCS) precursor on carbon nanotubes surfaces that resulted in formation of shell/core type ceramic SiOC−CNT architecture. Li-ion battery anode (prepared at a loading of ∼1.0 mg cm −2 ) showed stable charge capacity of 686 mA h g −1 even after 40 cycles. The average Coulombic efficiency (excluding the first cycle loss) was 99.6%. Further, the post electrochemical imaging of the dissembled cells showed no apparent damage to the anode surface, highlighting improved chemical and mechanical stability of these composites. A similar trend was observed in the rate capability tests, where the SiOC−CNT anode (with 5 wt % loading in TTCS) again showed stable performance, completely recovering the first cycle capacity of ∼750 mA h g −1 when the current density was brought back to 50 mA g −1 after cycling at higher current densities.

Facile kinetics of Li-ion intake causes superior rate capability in multiwalled carbon nanotube@TiO2 nanocomposite battery anodes

“…On the contrary, pristine TiO 2 anodes exhibit a current limitation originated by high charge transfer resistances that severely reduces power performance. The results obtained might be extrapolated to the family of core-shell materials based on carbon nanotubes that recently have attracted much attention for developing efficient lithium-ion battery materials [6,[14][15][16].…”

In situ synthesis and electrical properties of porous SiOC ceramics decorated with SiC nanowires

“…Porous polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) have recently attracted a lot of interest due to their exceptionally low creep rate, high thermal stability, excellent chemical durability and tunable mechanical properties [1][2][3][4][5], which make PDCs attain the potential applications in catalyst supports, purification of water contaminated with organic dyes, electrodes, supercapacitors, gas storage and drug delivery [6][7][8][9][10].…”

Lithiation Behavior of High Capacity SiCO Anode Material for Lithium-ion Battery: A First Principle Study

“…Because of the unique molecular structures, polymerderived silicon oxycarbide (SiCO) has a reversible capacity of $800 mA h g À1 and is considered as a promising anode materials for Li-ion battery [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. SiCO has been extensively studied over the past years by experiments, and its unique nano-structure is believed to make a significant contribution to the excellent properties [5][6][7]11,12].…”