PSi@SiOx/Nano-Ag composite derived from silicon cutting waste as high-performance anode material for Li-ion batteries

Integration of photovoltaic (PV) power generation and energy storage has been widely believed to be the ultimate solution for future energy demands. Herein, an ingenious method was reported to make full use of photovoltaic silicon cutting waste (SiCW) natural characters fabricating PSi@SiOx/Nano-Ag composite as anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The sheet-like structure with nano/micropores and native SiOx layer addressed the volume expansion issues of Si material. Ag nanoparticles greatly enhanced electrical conductivity of composite and promoted Li⁺/e^- transport. Synergistic effect of the designed PSi@SiOx/Nano-Ag composite contributed outstanding cyclic performance with reversible capacity of 1409mAhg^-1 after 500 cycles. Notably, full LIBs with PSi@SiOx/Nano-Ag anode and commercial Li[Ni_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2]O₂ (NCM622) cathode delivered stable capacity of 137.5mAhg^-1 at current density of 200 mA g^-1, accompanying with a high energy density of 438 Wh kg^-1. Furthermore, electrochemical Li⁺ storage behavior of this PSi@SiOx/Nano-Ag electrode was studied, and reaction mechanism and crystal structure evolution during cycles were also revealed by in-situ XRD analysis. The synthesis method is facile and cost-effective, which paves a novel way towards high-performance Si-based anodes and promising markets for both solar photovoltaic and lithium-ion battery industries.