Multifunctional Conductive and Elastic Matrices-Engineered Si Nanocomposite Anodes for Liquid and Solid-State Lithium...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Silicon anodes suffer from poor electronic conductivity and significant volume expansion during cycling.
• These limitations hinder performance and durability in both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs).
• Existing silicon anode strategies often lack scalability and robustness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scalable and facile synthesis route for a silicon nanocomposite anode.
• To address the intrinsic challenges of silicon anodes for advanced battery applications.
• To create a versatile anode platform compatible with both LIBs and ASSLBs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hierarchical Si/a-Sn/CoSi2/G/C nanocomposite anode.
• Integration of ultrafine Si nanocrystallites with amorphous tin, cobalt disilicide framework, graphite scaffold, and carbon shell.
• Electrochemical evaluation in both LIB and ASSLB systems.

Main Results:

• The Si/a-Sn/CoSi2/G/C anode exhibits high reversible capacity, stable cycling, and improved rate capability.
• LIB full-cells achieved an energy density of 434.4 Wh kg⁻¹ with durable cycling.
• ASSLB full-cells demonstrated energy densities over 300 Wh kg⁻¹ with excellent stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed hierarchical architecture effectively mitigates silicon anode degradation.
• The Si/a-Sn/CoSi2/G/C nanocomposite is a practical and scalable anode for next-generation batteries.
• This work presents a promising silicon-based anode platform for high-energy LIBs and ASSLBs.