Silicon-Decorated Carbon Nanotubes as High Capacity Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries

摘要

The application of lithium-ion (Li-ion) secondary (rechargeable) batteries in electrical and hybrid electrical cars demands improvements in energy and power storage densities in addition to long cycle lifetimes. These improvements can be achieved through the development of high-capacity anodes with long cycle lifetimes. Graphitic anodes presently used for most Li-ion batteries have a theoretical reversible specific capacity of 372 mAh/g as a result of the intercalation of one lithium ion per six carbon (C) atoms (LiC6). By incorporating silicon (Si), capacities greater than graphite by an order of magnitude become possible (Figure 1).