Fabrication of SiOx Ultra-Fine Nanoparticles by IR nanosecond laser ablation as anode materials for lithium ion battery

Abstract

Silicon based materials have been suggested as promising alternative anode materials for their high higher theoretical capacity and lower working potential. As a novel method of preparing ultrafine oxide nanoparticles, laser ablation method provides an important way for the preparation of anode materials for lithium ion batteries. When a silicon chip was irradiated by a flat-top high energy infrared laser, large yellow ultrafine SiOx nanoparticles with high oxygen content were produced at the edge of the ablation area due to the strong heat interaction. The resulting sample had a Si: O atom ratio of 1: 1.3. The results suggested that the ultrafine nanoparticles were composed of two phases: SiO1.35 and SiO0.93. When the synthesized SiOx ultrafine nanoparticles were utilized as anode material for lithium batteries (LIBs), the specific capacity of the electrode gradually increased at a current density of 0.2Ag−1, and delivered a maximum of 438mAhg−1 at the 451th cycle before it stabilized. In the following cycles, there was only sight degradation for specific capacity, and the specific capacity of the electrode was maintained at 344mAhg−1 after 800 cycles.