Three-dimensional nickel-silicide foam loaded with dense silicon nanowires as a robust anode for lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Ionics Vol. 30; no. 11; pp. 6835 - 6844
• Main Authors: Liu, Ting-Ting, Ye, Zhuo-Feng, Li, Shang-Qi, Zhang, Yi, Zhang, Yao-Wen, Li, Xin-Tao, Du, Fei-Hu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.11.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anodes; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Diffusion rate; Electrical resistivity; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Energy Storage; High aspect ratio; Lithium-ion batteries; Nanowires; Optical and Electronic Materials; Renewable and Green Energy; Silicides; Silicon; Supercritical fluids; Lithium-ion batteries; Supercritical fluid-liquid-solid synthesis; 3D Ni; foam; Si; Silicon nanowires; High loading
• ISSN: 0947-7047; 1862-0760
• DOI: 10.1007/s11581-024-05764-2

Silicon, with its many advantages, is gaining attention in the field of lithium-ion battery anode materials. However, severe volume swelling, poor conductivity, and slow Li + diffusion kinetics are major obstacles to enhancing the electrochemical properties of silicon anodes. One-dimensional silicon nanowires with a high aspect ratio can effectively ameliorate these issues, while the complexity of the synthesis method limits its development. Here, a three-dimensional flexible electrode of binary-phase Ni-silicide foam loaded with silicon nanowires (Ni x Si y @Si NWs) was constructed in two simple steps: preparation of metal catalyst nanoparticles using a chemical plating approach and production of silicon nanowires by the supercritical fluid-liquid–solid mechanism. Benefiting from the excellent anchoring ability and superior electrical conductivity of Ni x Si y as well as the extra space and favorable Li + and electrolyte diffusion paths provided by the Si NWs network, the as-obtained anode exhibits a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 77% at 0.5 A g −1 , excellent cycling performance (a reversible capacity of 1238 mAh g −1 after 200 cycles) and outstanding rate capability (2675, 2497, 2164, 1740, and 1222 mAh g −1 at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 A g −1 , respectively).