Tin-Seeded Silicon Nanowires for High Capacity Li-Ion Batteries

A tin (Sn)-seeded supercritical fluid-liquid-solid (SFLS) synthesis of silicon (Si) nanowires with trisilane reactant was developed. When used as anodes in lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, films of the nanowires with poly(vinylidene) fluoride (PVdF) or sodium alginate (NaAlg) binder, carbon conductor, and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC)-containing electrolyte gave reversible, high charge storage capacities of 1,800 mA h g(-1). The nanowires also exhibited relatively good rate capability, with capacities of 400 mA h g(-1) at the relatively fast cycling rates of 2C.