Synthesis and electrochemical performance of mesoporous SiO2–carbon nanofibers composite as anode materials for lithium secondary batteries

Abstract

In this study, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and mesoporous SiO2–carbon nanofibers composite were synthesized and applied as the anode materials in lithium secondary batteries. CNFs and mesoporous SiO2–CNFs composite were grown via chemical vapor deposition method with iron-copper catalysts. Mesoporous SiO2 materials were prepared by sol–gel method using tetraethylorthosilicate as the silica source and cetyltrimethylammoniumchloride as the template. Ethylene was used as the carbon source and passes into a quartz reactor of a tube furnace heated to 600°C, and the temperature was maintained at 600°C for 10min to synthesize CNFs and mesoporous SiO2–CNFs composite. The electrochemical characteristics of the as-prepared CNFs and mesoporous SiO2–CNFs composite as the anode of lithium secondary batteries were investigated using a three-electrode cell. In particular, the mesoporous SiO2–CNFs composites synthesized without binder after depositing mesoporous SiO2 on Ni foam showed the highest charging and discharging capacity and retention rate. The initial capacity (2420mAh/g) of mesoporous SiO2–CNFs composites decreased to 2092mAh/g after 30 cycles at a retention rate of 86.4%.