Fabricating Silicon Nanotubes by Electrochemical Exfoliation and Reduction of Layer-Structured CaSiO3 in Molten Salt

Silicon nanotubes (SNTs) are very attractive in the fields of energy, catalysis, and sensors, but a facile template- and/or catalyst-free preparation method is still absent. Herein, we study a controllable and cost-effective approach for preparing SNTs by electrochemically reducing layer-structured calcium silicate (CaSiO3) in molten CaCl2/NaCl without any template and catalyst. The underlying mechanism of the SNT formation is uncovered: the layer-structured CaSiO3 is first electrochemically exfoliated into SiOx (0 < x < 2) sheets while releasing CaO into the molten salts, and then the SiOx sheets are electrochemically reduced and simultaneously crimped into SNTs. The diameter (120-312 nm) and wall thickness (similar to 40 nm) of the SNTs can be tailorable by manipulating the reduction potential between -1.28 and -1.48 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Lastly, the electrolytic SNTs show a high lithium storage capacity of 3737 mAh g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1), a high rate capability of 1371 mA h g(-1) at 10 A g(-1), and stable cycling with a capacity of 974 mAh g(-1) after 600 cycles at 1 A g(-1). Overall, the template- and catalyst-free electrochemical method provides a straightforward and facile way to prepare SNTs with a brand-new mechanism that can be applied to other tubular structure materials.

Automated summary

This study presents a novel method for preparing silicon nanotubes without using a template or catalyst, by electrochemically reducing layer-structured calcium silicate in molten salts. The resulting SNTs exhibit controllable diameter and wall thickness, and show high lithium storage capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability. The template- and catalyst-free electrochemical approach offers a straightforward way to prepare SNTs with potential applications in other tubular structure materials.