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Three-dimensionally multiple protected silicon anode toward ultrahigh areal capacity and stability
Junkai Zhao1, Mingzhu Xie2, Kaimeng Yang3
1Beijing Key Laboratory of Energy Conversion and Storage Materials, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), Beijing 100094, China.
This study developed a novel silicon anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using citric acid modification, liquid metal, and copper foam. The protected silicon anode shows improved capacity retention and stability for next-generation energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Silicon (Si) anodes are promising for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to high theoretical capacity.
- Si anodes suffer from rapid capacity fade caused by significant volume changes during cycling.
- Developing strategies to mitigate volume expansion and maintain electrode integrity is crucial for Si anode performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a multi-protection strategy for a three-dimensional silicon anode.
- To enhance the electrochemical performance and cycling stability of silicon anodes for LIBs.
- To provide a prototype for high-energy density electrodes.
Main Methods:
- Citric acid modification of silicon particles (CA@Si) to improve adhesion.
- Incorporation of GaInSn ternary liquid metal (LM) for electrical contact.
- Fabrication of a porous copper foam (CF) based electrode to accommodate volume expansion.
Main Results:
- The composite anode (CF-LM-CA@Si) demonstrated a discharge capacity of 3.14 mAh cm⁻² after 100 cycles at 0.4 A g⁻¹.
- Achieved a capacity retention rate of 76.1% relative to the initial discharge capacity.
- The electrode structure effectively accommodated volume expansion, maintaining electrode integrity and delivering comparable full-cell performance.
Conclusions:
- The developed composite silicon anode exhibits enhanced stability and high energy density for LIB applications.
- The synergistic protection strategy effectively addresses the volume expansion challenge in silicon anodes.
- This work presents a viable approach for creating robust, high-performance electrodes for advanced energy storage.
