Cycle stability improvement of a
high-capacity Si anode is a challenge
for its wide application in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.
Active amorphous/nanosized Si embedded in an inactive matrix is a
strategy to improve the cycle stability of Si anodes. Ternary Si100–x–y
Ti
x
B
y
(5 ≤ y ≤ x ≤ 20) alloys are designed
and prepared by ball milling using elemental Si, Ti, and B as starting
materials. The formation sequence of inactive phases during mechanical
alloying is predicted by an effective heat-of-formation model and
verified by microstructural characterization. The local-fine distribution
of free amorphous and nanocrystalline Si in the Si100–x–y
Ti
x
B
y
is analyzed by confocal μ-Raman spectroscopy. When used as lithium-ion anodes, the
capacity and voltage affected by Si and inactive compounds in the
Si100–x–y
Ti
x
B
y
are
concerned to assess their high energy density. Furthermore, the impact
of free active Si, the inactive phase, and amorphous Si on the cyclability
of Si100–x–y
Ti
x
B
y
is
studied. The results show that the Si100–x–y
Ti
x
B
y
material is a potential anode for high-energy-density
Li-ion batteries and could be used to guide the design of multi-component
Si-alloy anodes.
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