A Facile, One-Step Synthesis of Silicon/Silicon Carbide/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite as a Cycling-Stable Anode for Lithium Ion Batteries
Yi Zhang,
Kai Hu,
Yunlei Zhou,
Yingbin Xia,
Nengfei Yu,
Guanglei Wu,
Yusong Zhu,
Yuping Wu,
Haibo Huang
Affiliations
Yi Zhang
School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Kai Hu
School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Yunlei Zhou
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Yingbin Xia
School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Nengfei Yu
School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Guanglei Wu
Institute of Materials for Energy and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Yusong Zhu
School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Yuping Wu
School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Haibo Huang
School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, & Robotics and Microsystems Center, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Silicon/carbon nanotube (Si/CNTs) nanocomposite is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Challenges related to the tricky synthesis process, as well as the weak interaction between Si and CNTs, hinder practical applications. To address these issues, a facile, one-step method to synthesize Si/CNTs nanocomposite by using silica (SiO2) as a reactant via a magnesium reduction process was developed. In this synthesis, the heat released enables the as-obtained Si to react with CNTs in the interfacial region to form silicon carbide (SiC). By virtue of the unique structure composed of Si nanoparticles strongly anchored to conductive CNTs network with stable Si−C chemical bonding, the Si/SiC/CNT nanocomposite delivers a stable capacity of ~1100 mAh g−1 and a capacity retention of about 83.8% after 200 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Our studies may provide a convenient strategy for the preparation of the Si/C anode of LIBs.
