A high-performance Li-ion anode from direct deposition of Si nanoparticles

• Published in: Nano energy 2017-08, Vol.38, p.477-485
• Main Authors: Xu, Yaolin, Swaans, Ellie, Chen, Sibo, Basak, Shibabrata, R. M. L. Harks, Peter Paul, Peng, Bo, Zandbergen, Henny W., Borsa, Dana M., Mulder, Fokko M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Direct deposition; Li ion battery; One-off SEI formation; Si nanoparticles
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.06.011

Nanostructured silicon has been intensively investigated as a high capacity Li-ion battery anode. However, the commercial introduction still requires advances in the scalable synthesis of sophisticated Si nanomaterials and electrodes. Moreover, the electrode degradation due to volume changes upon de-/lithiation, low areal electrode capacity, and application of large amounts of advanced conductive additives are some of the challenging aspects. Here we report a Si electrode, prepared from direct deposition of Si nanoparticles on a current collector without any binder or conducting additives, that addresses all of the above issues. It exhibits an excellent cycling stability and a high capacity retention taking advantages of what appears to be a locally protective, yolk-shell reminiscent, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. Cycling an electrode with a Si nanoparticle loading of 2.2mgcm−2 achieved an unrivalled areal capacity retention, specifically, up to 4.2mAhcm−2 and ~ 1.5mAhcm−2 at 0.8mAcm−2 and 1.6mAcm−2, respectively. [Display omitted] •Thick (up to 40µm) layers of Si nanoparticles (Si NP) are deposited directly.•This carbon / binder free Si NP deposition is directly used as the LIB anode.•A protective, one-off solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is formed.•Excellent areal capacity retention and cycling stability are achieved.