Scientific Reports (Jun 2018)

Kinked silicon nanowires-enabled interweaving electrode configuration for lithium-ion batteries

  • Georgiana Sandu,
  • Michael Coulombier,
  • Vishank Kumar,
  • Hailu G. Kassa,
  • Ionel Avram,
  • Ran Ye,
  • Antoine Stopin,
  • Davide Bonifazi,
  • Jean-François Gohy,
  • Philippe Leclère,
  • Xavier Gonze,
  • Thomas Pardoen,
  • Alexandru Vlad,
  • Sorin Melinte

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28108-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract A tri-dimensional interweaving kinked silicon nanowires (k-SiNWs) assembly, with a Ni current collector co-integrated, is evaluated as electrode configuration for lithium ion batteries. The large-scale fabrication of k-SiNWs is based on a procedure for continuous metal assisted chemical etching of Si, supported by a chemical peeling step that enables the reuse of the Si substrate. The kinks are triggered by a simple, repetitive etch-quench sequence in a HF and H2O2-based etchant. We find that the inter-locking frameworks of k-SiNWs and multi-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit beneficial mechanical properties with a foam-like behavior amplified by the kinks and a suitable porosity for a minimal electrode deformation upon Li insertion. In addition, ionic liquid electrolyte systems associated with the integrated Ni current collector repress the detrimental effects related to the Si-Li alloying reaction, enabling high cycling stability with 80% capacity retention (1695 mAh/gSi) after 100 cycles. Areal capacities of 2.42 mAh/cm2 (1276 mAh/gelectrode) can be achieved at the maximum evaluated thickness (corresponding to 1.3 mgSi/cm2). This work emphasizes the versatility of the metal assisted chemical etching for the synthesis of advanced Si nanostructures for high performance lithium ion battery electrodes.