Highly Interconnected Si Nanowires for Improved Stability Li-Ion Battery Anodes

Silicon exhibits the largest known capacity for Li insertion in anodes of Li-ion batteries. However, because of large volume expansion/phase changes upon alloying, Si becomes powder-like after a few charge-discharge cycles. Various approaches have been explored in the past to circumvent this problem, including the use of nanomaterials, particularly Si nanowires. However, even though nanowires resist cracking very well, anodes based on Si nanowires still see their original capacity fade away upon cycling, because of wire detachment from the substrate, due to the stress generated at their roots upon alloying with Li. Here, we present a silicon nanowire growth strategy yielding highly interconnected specimens, which prevents them from being individually detached from the substrate. We report a similar to 100% charge retention after 40 cycles at C/2 rate, without charging voltage limitation. We also show that our anodes can be cycled at 8C rates without damage and we grow nanowires with a density of 1.2 mg/cm2, yielding anodes delivering a 4.2 mAh/cm2 charge density. Finally, we point out that a better understanding of the interactions of silicon with electrolytes is needed if the field is to progress in the future.