Innovative design of silicon-core mesoporous carbon composite for high performance anode material in advanced lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Silicon is widely recognized as an exceptionally auspicious anode material for lithium−ion batteries due to its remarkable specific capacity, suitable operational potential, and ecologically innocuous characteristics. This study presents a novel silicon@void@FC (fibrous carbon) composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Utilizing a one-step synthesis approach, the resulting hollow core–shell structure, combined with a mesoporous carbon shell, demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance. The Si@Void@FC electrode exhibits remarkable cycle stability and rate performance, maintaining structural integrity over 500 cycles without observable degradation. The outer carbon shell acts as a protective layer and accommodates silicon volume expansion during cycling, preventing excessive contact with the electrolyte. The rich mesoporous structure facilitates efficient lithium-ion diffusion, enhancing lithiation and delithiation processes. The simplified one-step synthesis method further streamlines the preparation process, eliminating the need for complete silica template formation. This innovative Si@Void@FC composite material holds promise for advancing lithium-ion battery technology, addressing challenges associated with silicon-based anode materials, and offering insights into the design and synthesis of high-performance energy storage materials.