Electrochemical Performance Enhancement of Micro-Sized Porous Si by Integrating with Nano-Sn and Carbonaceous Materials

Silicon is investigated as one of the most prospective anode materials for next generation lithium ion batteries due to its superior theoretical capacity (3580 mAh g(-1)), but its commercial application is hindered by its inferior dynamic property and poor cyclic performance. Herein, we presented a facile method for preparing silicon/tin@graphite-amorphous carbon (Si/Sn@G-C) composite through hydrolyzing of SnCl2 on etched Fe-Si alloys, followed by ball milling mixture and carbon pyrolysis reduction processes. Structural characterization indicates that the nano-Sn decorated porous Si particles are coated by graphite and amorphous carbon. The addition of nano-Sn and carbonaceous materials can effectively improve the dynamic performance and the structure stability of the composite. As a result, it exhibits an initial columbic efficiency of 79% and a stable specific capacity of 825.5 mAh g(-1) after 300 cycles at a current density of 1 A g(-1). Besides, the Si/Sn@G-C composite exerts enhanced rate performance with 445 mAh g(-1) retention at 5 A g(-1). This work provides an approach to improve the electrochemical performance of Si anode materials through reasonable compositing with elements from the same family.

Automated summary

The study presents a facile method to prepare a silicon/tin@graphite-amorphous carbon composite which effectively improves the dynamic performance and structure stability of silicon anode materials, leading to enhanced electrochemical performance with good rate capability and high specific capacity retention after 300 cycles.