Silicon nanowires for rechargeable lithium-ion battery anodes

Large-area, wafer-scale silicon nanowire arrays prepared by metal-induced chemical etching are shown as promising scalable anode materials for rechargeable lithium battery. In addition to being low cost, large area, and easy to prepare, the electroless-etched silicon nanowires (SiNWs) have good conductivity and nanometer-scale rough surfaces; both features facilitate charge transport and insertion/extraction of Li ions. The electroless-etched SiNWs anode showed larger charge capacity and longer cycling stability than the conventional planar-polished Si wafer. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.