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Electrically exploded silicon/carbon nanocomposite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
|May 15, 2015
Summary
Synthesized silicon-carbon nanostructures using electrical explosion and mechanical milling enhance lithium-ion battery performance. The milled nanocomposite anode shows improved capacity and efficiency for next-generation energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Silicon (Si) is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity.
- However, Si anodes suffer from large volume expansion during cycling, leading to poor stability and capacity fading.
- Carbon coating and nanostructuring are effective strategies to mitigate these issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel silicon-carbon core-shell nanostructures.
- To investigate the effect of high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) on the material properties and electrochemical performance of Si-based nanocomposites.
- To evaluate these nanocomposites as anode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Si-containing carbon-coated core-shell nanostructures via electrical explosion of Si wires in ethanol.
- Post-synthesis treatment using high energy mechanical milling (HEMM).
- Material characterization using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
- Electrochemical performance evaluation as anode material for LIBs.
Main Results:
- HEMM resulted in very fine, amorphous Si particles embedded in a carbon and silicon carbide (SiC) matrix.
- The milled Si-based nanocomposites exhibited significantly enhanced electrochemical performance compared to unmilled samples.
- Specific discharge capacities of 825 mAh/g (milled) and 717 mAh/g (unmilled) were achieved after the first cycle.
- Coulombic efficiencies reached 98.5% (milled) and 97% (unmilled) after 60 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The combination of electrical explosion and HEMM is an effective method for producing advanced Si-based anode materials.
- The fine, amorphous structure and carbon coating achieved through HEMM contribute to improved electrochemical stability and capacity retention in LIBs.
- These Si-based nanocomposites show great potential for high-performance lithium-ion battery applications.
