High-yield synthesis of single-crystal silicon nanoparticles as anode materials of lithium ion batteries via photosensitizer-assisted laser pyrolysis

Abstract

Single crystal silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) of 20 nm were produced via laser pyrolysis with a virtually complete conversion from SiH 4 to Si-NPs. SF 6 was used as the photosensitizer to transfer laser beam energy to silicon precursors, dramatically enhancing crystallinity of Si-NPs and their production efficiency. By using their well-developed crystalline structure, the directional volume expansion of Si-NPs was confirmed during lithiation. Lithiation/delithiation kinetics of our Si-NPs was superior to that of their amorphous counterparts due to the footprinted Li + pathways formed during amorphization.

Capacity retention behavior and morphology evolution of SixGe1−xnanoparticles as lithium-ion battery anode

“…While the growth of pristine silicon [44] and germanium NPs [45] using solution-based chemical approaches with high production yield has previously been reported, no research has been published on SiGe alloy NPs using solution methods. In this work, we have chosen to use laser pyrolysis of the gaseous precursor for SiGe alloy NP synthesis [46][47][48]. A focused laser beam (wavelength 10.6 μm) was aligned to cross the gas flow line perpendicularly within the reaction chamber.…”

Novel Preparation of N‐Doped SnO2 Nanoparticles via Laser‐Assisted Pyrolysis: Demonstration of Exceptional Lithium Storage Properties

“…More recently, a wet‐chemical and annealing method has been developed for the synthesis of bulk N‐doped SnO 2 . Compared with wet‐chemical methods, which require a washing and drying step, laser pyrolysis is a surfactant‐free physical vapor nanoparticle synthesis technique where an infrared CO 2 laser is used to excite a precursor or a photosensitizer gas (e.g., C 2 H 4 , SF 6 ), which energetically collides and results in decomposition of precursor molecules . The large thermal gradient between the limited reaction zone and the chamber wall, combined with the short residence time of precursors and growing species, prevents growth during the synthesis process.…”

“…Moreover, the rapid synthesis process, operating in continuous flow, can reach up to 1 kg h −1 in industrial pilot equipment . The flexibility of this technique permits synthesis of a wide variety of materials, including oxides, carbides , and elemental nanoparticles …”

Laser Irradiation of Electrode Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion

“…A wide range of materials, including metal oxides, metal carbides, and element nanostructures, have been successfully produced by LAP technology. 73,144 Besides, this technology imposes easy requirements on the precursors if only they can be excited by laser. For the laser inactive precursors, the photosensitizer is added to trigger the synthesis reactions of the electrode materials.…”