The microstructure matters: breaking down the barriers with single crystalline silicon as negative electrode in Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Silicon-based microelectronics forms a major foundation of our modern society. Small lithium-ion batteries act as the key enablers of its success and have revolutionised portable electronics used in our all everyday’s life. While large-scale LIBs are expected to help establish electric vehicles, on the other end of device size chip-integrated Si-based μ-batteries may revolutionise microelectronics once more. In general, Si is regarded as one of the white hopes since it offers energy densities being ten times higher than conventional anode materials. The use of monocrystalline, wafer-grade Si, however, requires several hurdles to be overcome since it its volume largely expands during lithiation. Here, we will show how 3D patterned Si wafers, prepared by the sophisticated techniques from semiconductor industry, are to be electrochemically activated to overcome these limitations and to leverage their full potential being reflected in stable charge capacities (>1000 mAhg–1) and high Coulomb efficiencies (98.8%).

Nanoscale investigation of deformation characteristics in a polycrystalline silicon carbide

“…16). Diffraction patterns for the crystalline and amorphous Si should be clearly distinguishable, as shown in the work of Sternad et al [31]. However, in the present study, the FFT images showed both types of diffraction patterns (i.e.…”

A Step toward High-Energy Silicon-Based Thin Film Lithium Ion Batteries

“…doping of Si thin films, 50 usage of binary Si thin film systems such as Mg-Si, 46 Ni-Si 51 or Si-Al, 52 structuring of electrodes, 45,49,53,54 surface modifications or coatings 42,47,55 as well as multilayer systems. [56][57][58] In this work, the focus is set on the manufacturing of Si-based thin film electrodes as well as their designed surface and structure modification by amorphous carbon layers to increase the mechanical stability and, thus, the electrochemical performance.…”

“…[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] Thin film electrodes are of special interest for usage in micro-batteries powering miniaturized electronic devices, for example for medical applications. 2,49 A schematic illustration of a possible set-up of an allsolid-state (micro-) battery is depicted in Figure 1a, in which a solid electrolyte can be used between the positive and negative thin film electrodes.…”

Conjugation with carbon nanotubes improves the performance of mesoporous silicon as Li-ion battery anode

“…However, the complicated nanostructures circumvent the problem only on the laboratory scale due to expense of the material production and difficulties in the production scale-up 6 . Some studies have managed to successfully employ micrometer sized silicon with reasonable mass loadings 13,14 . Another viable option is to utilize mesoporous silicon (PSi) material that can accommodate most of the volumetric changes and make the anode more robust 15,16 .…”