Controllable synthesis of silicon/carbon hollow microspheres using renewable sources for high energy lithium-ion battery

A silicon/carbon hollow microsphere is successfully synthesized through a simple spray drying method using the recycled kerf loss silicon and lignin as raw materials. In which, the morphology and structural characterization reveal that the micron kerf loss silicon can provide sufficient nucleation sites for lignin, thus achieving uniform distribution of carbon on the surface of silicon, and then self-assemble with each other to form a silicon/carbon hollow microsphere. Meanwhile, the synthesized silicon/carbon composite with 50% lignin content exhibit excellent electrochemical properties as anode materials for lithium-ion battery, which delivers a high reversible capacity of 1147 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g(-1) and a high capacity of 843 mAh g(-1) (corresponding capacity retention of 71.4%) after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g(-1), as well as an excellent property in lithium-ion full battery which assembled with economical LiCoO2 cathode. Herein, the utilization of the recycled kerf loss silicon, especially using the renewable lignin as carbon source, is cost-effective for the large-scale and sustainable preparation of advanced silicon/carbon anode, which open up a new strategy for preparing high-capacity and high-cycling-behavior anode materials with low-cost and mass production ability.

Automated summary

A silicon/carbon hollow microsphere was successfully synthesized using recycled kerf loss silicon and lignin as raw materials. The micron kerf loss silicon provided nucleation sites for lignin, leading to uniform distribution of carbon on the silicon's surface. The composite exhibited excellent electrochemical properties as anode material for lithium-ion battery, showing high reversible capacity and capacity retention, demonstrating a cost-effective strategy for preparing high-capacity and high-cycling-behavior anode materials.