Si–CNT/rGO Nanoheterostructures as High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion‐Battery Anodes

Abstract

AbstractA robust and electrochemically stable 3D nanoheterostructure consisting of Si nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is developed as an anode material (Si–CNT/rGO) for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). It integrates the benefits from its three building blocks of Si NPs, CNTs, and rGO; Si NPs offer high capacity, CNTs act as a mechanical, electrically conductive support to connect Si NPs, and highly electrically conductive and flexible rGO provides a robust matrix with enough void space to accommodate the volume changes of Si NPs upon lithiation/delithiation and to simultaneously assure good electric contact. The composite material shows a high reversible capacity of 1665 mAh g−1 with good capacity retention of 88.6 % over 500 cycles when cycled at 0.5 C, that is, a 0.02 % capacity decay per cycle. The high‐power capability is demonstrated at 10 C (16.2 A g−1) where 755 mAh g−1 are delivered, thus indicating promising characteristics of this material for high‐performance LIBs.