Highly Reversible Lithium Storage in Nanostructured Silicon

• Published in: Electrochemical and solid-state letters Vol. 6; no. 9; pp. A194 - A197
• Main Authors: Graetz, J., Ahn, C. C., Yazami, R., Fultz, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2003
• ISSN: 1099-0062
• DOI: 10.1149/1.1596917

Anode materials of nanostructured silicon have been prepared by physical vapor deposition and characterized using electrochemical methods. The electrodes were prepared in thin-film form as nanocrystalline particles (12 nm mean diameter) and as continuous amorphous thin films (100 nm thick). The nanocrystalline silicon exhibited specific capacities of around 1100 mAh/g with a 50% capacity retention after 50 cycles. The amorphous thin-film electrodes exhibited initial capacities of 3500 mAh/g with a stable capacity of 2000 mAh/g over 50 cycles. We suggest that the nanoscale dimensions of the silicon circumvents conventional mechanisms of mechanical deterioration, permitting good cycle life.