Graphene Caging Silicon Particles for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Silicon holds great promise as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries with higher energy density; its implication, however, is limited by rapid capacity fading. A catalytic growth of graphene cages on composite particles of magnesium oxide and silicon, which are made by magnesiothermic reduction reaction of silica particles, is reported herein. Catalyzed by the magnesium oxide, graphene cages can be conformally grown onto the composite particles, leading to the formation of hollow graphene-encapsulated Si particles. Such materials exhibit excellent lithium storage properties in terms of high specific capacity, remarkable rate capability (890 mAh g(-1) at 5 A g(-1)), and good cycling retention over 200 cycles with consistently high coulombic efficiency at a current density of 1 A g(-1). A full battery test using LiCoO2 as the cathode demonstrates a high energy density of 329 Wh kg(-1).