Challenges and Recent Progress on Silicon‐Based Anode Materials for Next‐Generation Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

The electrode materials are the most critical content for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) with high energy density for electric vehicles and portable electronics. Considering the high abundance, environmental friendliness, low cost, high capacity, and low operation potential of silicon‐based anode, it has been intensively studied as one of the most promising anode materials for high‐energy LIBs. However, the widespread application of silicon anode is impeded by the poor electrical conductivity, large volume variation, and unstable solid–electrolyte interfaces films. In the past decade, significant efforts have been demonstrated to tackle these major challenges toward industrial applications. Herein, the focus is on combining with advanced structure like nanostructure and composite with other materials, exploring various new polymer binders, improving electrolyte, different prelithiation strategies, and Si/graphite design to meet commercialization requirements, particularly summarized the progress on areal capacity, initial Coulombic efficiency, and cost. Finally, the guidelines and trends for practical silicon electrodes are presented based on the recent reports.

Hierarchically Porous Silica Membrane as Separator for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been vigorously applied in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems due to their high operating voltage, long cycle life, and low self-discharge rate. [1][2][3] To meet the increasing demand for high-end applications, much attention has been paid to increase the battery's rate performance and energy density. [4,5] As one of the most important components of LIBs, separators not only prevent the physical contact of electrodes, but also provide porous channels for ionic transport.…”

“…[21] Nevertheless, there still remains a challenge to develop ultralight separators with allround performance (i.e., high porosity, excellent electrolyte wettability, and sufficient thermal stability and mechanical strength).Silica (SiO 2 ) particles have been widely used in medicine, photonics, and catalysis, owing to their environmental friendliness, low cost, and ease of production. [22][23][24][25][26] Recently, SiO 2 particles have been exploited to modify the surface of polymer (e.g., PP) separators to improve the thermal stability and electrolyte affinity. [27] Moreover, SiO 2 particles have also been used as fillers to enhance the mechanical strength and thermal stability of separators.…”

Versatilely tuned vertical silicon nanowire arrays by cryogenic reactive ion etching as a lithium-ion battery anode

“…6 b). The prelithiation step is required to load Li + from the Li metal onto Si nanowire arrays 73 . During the prelithiation, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is formed consuming the active Li.…”

Electrochemical Synthesis of Nano-Sized Silicon from KCl–K2SiF6 Melts for Powerful Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…The use of nanosized silicon particles, mainly fibers and tubes within composite materials, can significantly reduce the problem of volumetric expansion. Suitable polymer binders also reduce mechanical degradation of the electrode, but they do not affect the silicon expansion [7,8]. Another method that can improve silicon's performance is the coating (mainly carbon based) of silicon particles and creation of a "core-shell" structure [9,10].…”

“…Despite the active interest in Si-based anodes for LIBs [3,4,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]40], the works devoted to the utilization of electrolytic silicon deposits as the LIB anode material are limited [41][42][43][44][45][46]. The highest characteristics for silicon obtained by electrodeposition are on carbon cloth.…”