Nano-vault architecture mitigates stress in silicon-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Nanomaterials undergoing cyclic swelling-deswelling benefit from inner void spaces that help accommodate significant volumetric changes. Such flexibility, however, typically comes at a price of reduced mechanical stability, which leads to component deterioration and, eventually, failure. Here, we id...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communications materials 2021-02, Vol.2 (1), p.1-10, Article 16
Main Authors: Haro, Marta, Kumar, Pawan, Zhao, Junlei, Koutsogiannis, Panagiotis, Porkovich, Alexander James, Ziadi, Zakaria, Bouloumis, Theodoros, Singh, Vidyadhar, Juarez-Perez, Emilio J., Toulkeridou, Evropi, Nordlund, Kai, Djurabekova, Flyura, Sowwan, Mukhles, Grammatikopoulos, Panagiotis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/299/891
639/925/357/354
Amorphous silicon
Anodes
Chemistry and Materials Science
Cluster beam deposition
Columns (structural)
Deformation resistance
Electrochemical analysis
Ion beams
Lithium
Lithium-ion batteries
Materials Science
Mechanical properties
Modulus of elasticity
Nanomaterials
Nanoparticles
Rechargeable batteries
Silicon
Silicon films
Stability
Tantalum
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Nanomaterials undergoing cyclic swelling-deswelling benefit from inner void spaces that help accommodate significant volumetric changes. Such flexibility, however, typically comes at a price of reduced mechanical stability, which leads to component deterioration and, eventually, failure. Here, we identify an optimised building block for silicon-based lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes, fabricate it with a ligand- and effluent-free cluster beam deposition method, and investigate its robustness by atomistic computer simulations. A columnar amorphous-silicon film was grown on a tantalum-nanoparticle scaffold due to its shadowing effect. PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping revealed a critical change in mechanical behaviour when columns touched forming a vaulted structure. The resulting maximisation of measured elastic modulus (~120 GPa) is ascribed to arch action, a well-known civil engineering concept. The vaulted nanostructure displays a sealed surface resistant to deformation that results in reduced electrode-electrolyte interface and increased Coulombic efficiency. More importantly, its vertical repetition in a double-layered aqueduct-like structure improves both the capacity retention and Coulombic efficiency of the LIB. Lithiation of anodes during cycling of lithium-ion batteries generates stresses that reduce operation lifetime. Here, a composite silicon-based anode with a nanoscale vaulted architecture shows high mechanical stability and electrochemical performance in a lithium-ion battery.
ISSN:2662-4443
2662-4443
DOI:10.1038/s43246-021-00119-0