SiO2 nanoparticles anchored on hollow porous carbon shells for high stability lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract

Silicon dioxide (SiO2), an exceptionally promising anode material, has garnered significant attention owing to its cost-effectiveness, widely available, and high theoretical capacity for lithium-ion batteries. However, the long-term stability of this anode is hindered by its significant volume expansion and limited electrical conductivity, which hampers its commercialization. In this study, we employed a strategy utilizing ZIF-8 as a template to fabricate hollow porous carbon (HPC). Nanometer-sized SiO2 particles were immobilized to the HPC shells and ultimately encapsulated within the carbon layer formed through high-temperature dopamine carbonization (PDA). This HPC@SiO2/C composite exhibits excellent long-cycle stability as the anode (capacity remains at 804 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles). The outstanding performance highlights its promising potential for real-world applications in the future.