Enhanced Performance of Silicon Negative Electrodes Composited with Titanium Carbide Based MXenes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Silicon is considered as one of the most promising candidates for the next generation negative electrode (negatrode) materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical specific capacity, appropriate lithiation potential range, and fairly abundant resources. However, the practical application of silicon negatrodes is hampered by the poor cycling and rate performances resulting mainly from the huge volume change during Li+ insertion/extraction. Various composite structures have been investigated to maintain the structural integrity and improve the stability and electric conductivity of silicon-based negatrodes. Of these, 2D transition-metal carbides, also known as MXenes (e.g., Ti3C2Tx), have become increasingly attractive for energy storage applications because of their excellent electric, electrochemical and mechanical properties and potential uses as the matrix for construction of 3D networks with larger buffering spaces and more effective charge carrier conduction in silicon-based negatrodes. This article reviews specifically composite negatrodes of silicon with titanium-carbide-based MXenes for LIBs from the materials perspective. The structures design, preparation method, interface control, and their effects on electrochemical performances are comprehensively elaborated on. It is shown that the recent development of Si/MXene-based negatrodes presents great potential for future applications.