A multilayered silicon-reduced graphene oxide electrode for high performance lithium-ion batteries

A multilayered structural silicon-reduced graphene oxide electrode with superior electrochemical performance was synthesized from bulk Si particles through inexpensive electroless etching and graphene self-encapsulating approach. The prepared composite electrode presents a stable charge-discharge performance with high rate, showing a reversible capacity of 2787 mAh g(-1) at a charging rate of 100 mA g(-1), and a stable capacity over 1000 mAh g(-1) was retained at 1 A g(-1) after 50 cycles with a high columbic efficiency of 99% during the whole cycling process. This superior performance can be attributed to its novel multilayered structure with porous Si particles encapsulated, which can effectively accommodate the large volume change during the lithiation process and provide increased electrical conductivity. This facile low-cost approach offers a promising route to develop an optimized carbon encapsulated Si electrode for future industrial applications.