Analysis of Scale-up Parameters in 3D Silicon-Nanowire Lithium-Battery Anodes

Abstract

New, higher-capacity materials are required in order to address the growing need for batteries with greater energy density and longer cycle life for modern applications. We present here a study of silicon-nanowires (SiNWs) anodes, synthesized via a novel, catalysts free and scalable chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on stainless-steel mesh[1]. Our study is focused on the adaptation of the SiNWs anode in various large-scale configurations. Our research efforts have resulted in the successful scale-up of the silicon anode from Si/Li half-cells with areal capacity of 14mAh/cm2, to coin cells with commercial cathodes, industrial 1/3AAA cells and eventually multilayered pouch cells. Testing of the anodes in industrial cells demonstrated the applicability of these anodes in commercial lithium-ion batteries that can run for hundreds of cycles, withstanding fast charge and discharge and subzero temperatures. An all-solid Si/polymer electrolyte/NCA cell was also demonstrated as a proof of concept (POC). We assign the major degradation mechanism of the SiNWs anodes to the growth of the primary and secondary SEI thickness and impedance during cycling. We found that the depth of lithiation/delithiation and the voltage profile of the cell significantly affect cell's stability[2].Figure 1- a) SiNWs anode grown on SS mesh, b) cycle life of 1Ah pouch cell with a 5.5mgSi/cm2 anode References[1] N. Harpak, G. Davidi, D. Schneier, S. Menkin, E. Mados, D. Golodnitsky, E. Peled, F. Patolsky, Large-Scale Self-Catalyzed Spongelike Silicon Nano-Network-Based 3D Anodes for High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries, Nano Lett. (2019) acs.nanolett.8b05127. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b05127.[2] D. Schneier, N. Harpak, S. Menkin, G. Davidi, M. Goor, E. Mados, G. Ardel, F. Patolsky, D. Golodnitsky, E. Peled, Analysis of Scale-up Parameters in 3D Silicon-Nanowire Lithium-Battery Anodes Analysis of Scale-up Parameters in 3D Silicon-Nanowire Lithium- Battery Anodes, (2020). doi:10.1149/1945-7111/ab6f5a. Figure 1