Porous Silicon Nanotube Arrays as Anode Material for Li-Ion Batteries

We report the electrochemical performance of Si nanotube vertical arrays possessing thin porous sidewalls for Li-ion batteries. Porous Si nanotubes were fabricated on stainless steel substrates using a sacrificial ZnO nanowire template method. These porous Si nanotubes are stable at multiple C-rates. A second discharge capacity of 3095 mAh g(-1) with a Coulombic efficiency of 63% is attained at a rate of C/20 and a stable gravimetric capacity of 1670 mAh g(-1) obtained after 30 cycles. The high capacity values are attributed to the large surface area offered by the porosity of the 3D nanostructures, thereby promoting lithium-ion storage according to a pseudocapacitive mechanism.