Silicon Nanowire Array Weaved by Carbon Chains for Stretchable Lithium-Ion Battery Anode

To manufacture flexible batteries, it can be a challenge for silicon base anode materials to maintain structural integrity and electrical connectivity under bending and torsion conditions. In this work, 1D silicon nanowire array structures combined with flexible carbon chains consisting of short carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and long carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are proposed. The CNFs and CNTs serve as chain joints and separate chain units, respectively, weaving the well-ordered Si nanowire array into a robust and integrated configuration. The prepared flexible and stretchable silicon array anode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance during dynamic operation. A high initial specific capacity of 2856 mAh g^-1 is achieved. After 1000 cycles, a capacity retention of 60% (1602 mAh g^-1) is maintained. Additionally, the capacity attenuation is less than 1% after 100 bending cycles. This excellent cycling stability is obtained with a high Si loading of 6.92 mg cm^-2. This novel approach offers great promise for the development of high-loading flexible energy-storage devices.