One-pot synthesis of silicon nanoparticles trapped in ordered mesoporous carbon for use as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries

Silicon nanoparticles trapped in an ordered mesoporous carbon composite were prepared by a one-step self-assembly with solvent evaporation using the triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 and a resorcinol-formaldehyde polymer as the templating agent and carbon precursor respectively. Such a one-pot synthesis of Si/ordered mesoporous carbon nanocomposite is suitable for large-scale synthesis. Characterization confirmed that the Si nanoparticles were trapped in the ordered mesoporous carbon, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis and nitrogen sorption isotherms. The composite showed a high reversible capacity above 700 mA h g(-1) during 50 cycles at 2 A g(-1). The improved electrochemical performance of the composite can be ascribed to the buffering effect of spaces formed in the ordered pore channels during the volume expansion of silicon and the rapid movement of lithium ions through the uniform cylindrical pore structure of the mesopores.