Thermally Induced Gelation-Derived SiO_x/C Anodes Modified With Graphene Oxide for Lithium-Ion Batteries

SiO_x is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity; nevertheless, its practical application is hampered by structural instability, poor conductivity, and uncontrolled solid electrolyte interface (SEI) growth. This study presents a systematic investigation of graphene oxide (GO) as a multifunctional additive integrated onto SiO_x/C anodes for LIBs, where the SiO_x/C was synthesized via a thermally induced sol-gel strategy to enhance uniformity and fabrication efficiency. GO loading facilitated the stabilization of the SEI layer, enhancing cycling stability while mitigating continuous electrolyte decomposition. The oxygen-containing functional groups in GO also helped with pseudocapacitive charge storage, which increased the overall capacity. Furthermore, GO acted as a structural binder, preventing SiO_x/C particle aggregation and preserving electrode integrity during prolonged cycling. The resulting 15% GO-SiO_x/C anode unveiled a high reversible capacity of 583.8 mAh g^-1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g^-1 and a sturdy cycle life of 498.3 mAh g^-1 after 350 cycles at 1 A g^-1. Post-cycling investigations verified the structural integrity of the GO-loaded electrode, underscoring the effectiveness of GO in mitigating volume expansion and fostering stable SEI generation.