Synthesis and characterization of crystalline cristobalite alpha low silicon dioxide nanoparticles: a cost-effective anode for lithium-ion battery

Abstract

Silicon dioxide (SiO2 or Silica) is one of the most prevalent substances in the crust of the Earth. The main varieties of crystalline silica are quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite. When applied as a material for energy, it is affordable and eco-friendly. The SiO2 is considered as electrochemically inactive toward lithium. The SiO2 exhibits low activity for diffusion and inadequate electrical conductivity. As the particle size of SiO2 decreases, the diffusion pathway of Li-ions shortens, and the electrochemical activity is promoted. In investigation, Cost-effective synthesis approach was employed to produce crystalline cristobalite alpha low silicon dioxide nanoparticles (CCαL SiO2 NPs) derived from Oryza sativa (rice) husk using a solvent extraction modification technique. The objective was to fabricate an cost-effective future anode nanomaterial that could reduce the significant volume expansion growth, pulverization, and increase electrical conductivity of CCαL SiO2 NPs anode and develop high specific capacity for Lithium-ion battery (LiB). To study the phase and purity of the SiO2, a variety of characterization methods, including X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Surface area analysis, Raman Shift analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, Contact angle measurement, Post-mortem X-ray diffraction, and Post-mortem field emission scanning electron microscopy were employed. This cost-effective synthesis of CCαL SiO2 NPs anode was first reported in this work.