Silicon-based nanomaterials for lithium-ion batteries

Silicon-based nanomaterials have been of scientific and commercial interest in lithium-ion batteries due to the low cost, low toxicity, and high specific capacity with an order of magnitude beyond that of conventional graphite. The poor capacity retention, caused by pulverization of Si during cycling, triggers researchers and engineers to explore better battery materials. This review summarizes recent work in improving Si-based anode materials via different approaches from diverse Si nanostructures, Si/metal nanocomposites, to Si/C nanocomposites, and also offers perspectives of the Si-based anode materials.