Synthesis and characterization of nanoporous NiSi-Si composite anode for lithium-ion batteries

Porous NiSi-Si composite particles having homogeneously distributed intraparticle pores with the size distribution peaked at 200 nm and a porosity of similar to 40% have been synthesized by a novel method, which comprises steps of ballmilling induced reaction to form Ni/NiSi/Si preform particles and subsequent dissolution of unreacted Ni. Upon lithiation/delithiation cycling, the composite particle electrode exhibits much reduced thickness expansion and capacity fading rate, as compared with the pure Si particle electrode. The improvements have been attributed to the success in introducing the preset voids to partially accommodate volume expansion arising from Si lithiation. In situ synchrotron XRD further indicates that NiSi of the composite is active toward Li alloying, and it undergoes reversible transformation to/from Ni2Si and LiySi. The reversible transformation between the silicides involves volume change in opposite to lithiation of Si, and is beneficial to stabilizing the composite electrode upon charge/discharge cycling. (c) 2006 The Electrochemical Society.