Ni-P-SBR composite-electroless-plating enables Si anode with high conductivity and elasticity for high performance Li-ion batteries application

Abstract

Silica-based anode is widely employed for high energy density Li-ion batteries owing to their high theoretical specific capacity (4200 mA h g−1). However, it is always accompanied by a huge volume expansion (300%) and shrinks during the lithiation/delithiation process, further leading to low cycle stability. Efforts to mitigate the adverse effects caused by volume expansion such as robust binder matrix, Core-shell structure, etc., inevitably affect the electronic conductivity within the electrode. Herein, a high conductivity and elasticity Si anode (Ni-P-SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) @Si) was designed and fabricated via the Ni-P-SBR composite-electroless-plating process. In this design, the Si particles are surrounded by SBR polymer and Ni particles, where the SBR can adapt to the volume change and Ni particles can provide the electrode with high electronic conductivity. Therefore, the Ni-P-SBR@Si delivers a high initial capacity of 3470 mA h g−1and presents capacity retention of 49.4% within 200 cycles at 600 mA g−1. Additionally, a high capacity of 1153 mA h g−1 can be achieved at 2000 mA g−1 and can be cycled stably under bending conditions. This strategy provides feasible ideas to solve the key issues that limit the practical application of Si anodes.