Improved rate capability of Si-C composite anodes by boron doping for lithium-ion batteries

We report a novel strategy to enhance the rate capability of Si-c composite by facile boron doping. Boron doping was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. The boron-doped Si-C composite shows much improved rate capability, delivering a capacity of 575 mAh/g at 6.4 A/g without any external carbon additive, 80% higher than that of undoped composite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement shows that boron-doped Si-C composite has lower charge transfer resistance, which helps improve its rate capability. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.