Li-ion batteries (LIBs) have become critical components in the manufacture of electric vehicles (EV) as they offer the best all-round performance compared to competing battery chemistries. However, LIB performance at...

Silicon nanowires (Si NWs) have been identified as an excellent candidate material for the replacement of graphite in anodes, allowing for a significant boost in the capacity of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, high‐density Si NWs are grown on a novel 3D interconnected network of binary‐phase Cu‐silicide nanofoam (3D CuxSiy NF) substrate. The nanofoam facilitates the uniform distribution of well‐segregated and small‐sized catalyst seeds, leading to high‐density/single‐phase Si NW growth with an areal‐loading in excess of 1.0 mg cm−2 and a stable areal capacity of ≈2.0 mAh cm−2 after 550 cycles. The use of the 3D CuxSiy NF as a substrate is further extended for Al, Bi, Cu, In, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sn, and Zn mediated Si NW growth, demonstrating the general applicability of the anode architecture.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are increasingly of interest in the field of lithium ion batteries due to their unique structure. However, previous preparation methods have mainly focused on their growth...

Capacity retention of directly grown Ge nanowire anodes is enhanced by replacing stainless steel with textured Cu foil current collectors.

As fossil fuel resources dwindle and new regulations for a cleaner and safer environment come on stream, there is a growing interest in developing new sustainable feedstocks for future applications. Lignocellulosic biomass is the feedstock of choice but remains underutilised and is mostly considered as waste. Therefore, the present study shows the preparation of lignin derived carbon nanofibre (CNFs)/Si hybrid nanostructures to be used as high-performance anodes for Li ion batteries. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows the evolution of the morphology after each processing step (electrospinning, stabilization and carbonization) and as a function of the Si content. The electrochemical analysis of the electrodes produced shows promising capacity values. The addition of Si elevated the achievable specific capacity of CNF, with 5, 10 and 15% of Si reaching respective capacity values of and 274, 439, 602 and 921 mAh g -1 . Thus, these results show the enormous potential of lignocelluose waste materials as high-performance energy storage materials.