Spider-web-inspired cellulose nanofibrils networking polyaniline-encapsulated silica nanoparticles as anode material of lithium-ion batteries

As the promising anode material of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), SiO2 has high theoretical capacity, but the volume expansion severely hinders its application. To address the challenge, inspired by the highly flexible spider-web architecture, the SiO2@carbonized polyaniline/carbonized 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (SiO2@cPANI/cTOCNFs) composite was designed, and fabricated via carbonizing the freeze-dried SiO2@PANI/TOCNFs. The resultant SiO2@cPANI/cTOCNFs composite exhibited unique spider-web-like nanostructures, providing a double-layer carbon network to protect SiO2 anode material. The results showed that, the SiO2@cPANI/cTOCNFs composite as anode material of LIBs offered a reversible capacity of 1103 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 0.1 A g(-1) after 200 cycles, and gave a capacity of 302 mAh g(-1) after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g(-1), exhibiting excellent cycling stability. This study provides a strategy of spider-web-inspired cellulose nanofibrils networking polyaniline-encapsulated silica nanoparticles as anode material of LIBs.

Automated summary

A spider-web inspired composite material was designed to protect the SiO2 anode material with a double-layer carbon network, resulting in excellent cycling stability. This study provides a new strategy for using cellulose nanofibrils networking polyaniline-encapsulated silica nanoparticles as anode material for lithium-ion batteries.