Graphite-Grafted Silicon Nanocomposite as a Negative Electrode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

p-Phenylenediamine is used to successively generate two aryl radicals that are required to link silicon nanoparticles to graphite flakes by a phenyl bridge and form new silicon/graphite nanocomposites (see image). Such a covalent grafting technique enhances the cycling ability and the gravimetric capacity of the nanocomposite-based electrode in a lithium-ion battery.