Graphite microspheres decorated with Si particles derived from waste solid of organosilane industry as high capacity anodes for Li-ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 228; pp. 112 - 119
• Main Authors: Yu, Jing, Zhan, Hanhui, Wang, Yanhong, Zhang, Zailiei, Chen, Han, Li, Hong, Zhong, Ziyi, Su, Fabing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.04.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anodes; Applied sciences; Carbon; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrochemical performance; Exact sciences and technology; Graphite; Lithium batteries; Lithium-ion batteries; Materials; Particulate composites; Silicon; Silicon waste; Silicon/carbon composite anode; Sucrose; Wastes; Lithium-ion batteries; Silicon/carbon composite anode; Electrochemical performance; Silicon waste; Graphite; Water; Amorphous material; Particle size; Anode; Impurity; Alkaline storage battery; Electrode material; Composite material; Electrochemical characteristic; Carbonization; Additive; Silicon; Current density; Active material; Microsphere; Organic silane; Secondary cell; Binders; Carbon; Lithium battery; Specific capacity
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.11.083

We report the decoration of commercial graphite microspheres (GMs) with Si particles as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. The Si particles are obtained from solid Si waste of organosilane industry that is acid-washed to remove the impurities and further ground. The GMs with a size of 5–40 μm as main active material, Si particles with a size of 1–10 μm as an additive, and sucrose dissolved in water as a binder are mixed and followed by carbonization to obtain Si/C composites containing graphite, Si, and amorphous carbon generated from sucrose. It is found that the composite containing 60.5 wt% of GMs, 22.1 wt% of Si, and 17.4 wt% of amorphous carbon obtained at 800 °C for 5 h shows the best electrochemical performance with a specific capacity of 522.6 mA h g−1 at the current density of 50 mA g−1 and 306.9 mA h g−1 at 500 mA g−1, much higher than those of GMs. Its capacity retention at 500 mA g−1 attains 93.9% after 20 cycles. The work demonstrates the possibility for utilization of the industrial Si waste to enhance graphite anode materials in Li-ion batteries. ► Si waste from organosilane industry was used for preparation of Si/C composite. ► Graphite microspheres were decorated with Si particles and sucrose as the binder. ► The Si/C composite anodes show the enhanced electrochemical performance.