Abstract
Yolk–shell nanostructures have attracted tremendous research interest due to their physicochemical properties and unique morphological features stemming from a movable core within a hollow shell. The structural potential for tuning inner space is the focal point of the yolk–shell nanostructures in a way that they can solve the long-lasted problem such as volume expansion and deterioration of lithium-ion battery electrodes. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the design, synthesis, and battery anode applications of yolk–shell nanostructures. The synthetic strategies for yolk–shell nanostructures consist of two categories: templating and self-templating methods. While the templating approach is straightforward in a way that the inner void is formed by removing the sacrificial layer, the self-templating methods cover various different strategies including galvanic replacement, Kirkendall effect, Ostwald ripening, partial removal of core, core injection, core contraction, and surface-protected etching. The battery anode applications of yolk–shell nanostructures are discussed by dividing into alloying and conversion types with details on the synthetic strategies. A successful design of yolk–shell nanostructures battery anodes achieved the improved reversible capacity compared to their bare morphologies (e.g., no capacity retention in 300 cycles for Si@C yolk–shell vs. capacity fading in 10 cycles for Si@C core–shell). This review ends with a summary and concluding remark yolk–shell nanostructures.
Highlights
Energy storage from renewable energy production to electrical energy upgrades the status of lithium-ion batteries to a more significant position due to its large capacity, long lifespan, and high energy density [1]
The yolk–shell nanostructures are covered in terms of designing strategies and applications in lithium and sodium battery anode materials
The building-up of yolk–shell nanostructures can be classified into templating and self-templating approaches according to the use of the sacrificial layer and the necessity of the removal process
Summary
Energy storage from renewable energy production to electrical energy upgrades the status of lithium-ion batteries to a more significant position due to its large capacity, long lifespan, and high energy density [1]. Based on the way of Li-ion storage, anode materials are classified into alloying anodes (Si, Sn, Ge, Al, SnO2), intercalating anodes (carbon, TiO2, LTO), and conversion reaction anodes (transition metal oxides, chalcogenides, phosphides, nitrides). Compared to bulk silicon anode, nanoscale silicon materials have been demonstrated as an effective strategy since nanostructured Si can accommodate elevated mechanical stress leading to prolonged cycling stability. Like other transitional metal oxides, these metal compound anodes are based on the conversion reaction These metal compounds have higher operating potential than graphite, they are still attractive candidates due to higher theoretical capacities [2,10,11,12,13,14].
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