Emerging Organic Surface Chemistry for Si Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Advances, Prospects, and Beyond

摘要

Due to its uniquely high specific capacity and natural abundance, silicon (Si)anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has reaped intensive research from bothacademic and industrial sectors. This review discusses the ongoing efforts intailoring Si particle surfaces to minimize the cycle-induced changes to the integralstructure of particles or electrodes. As an upgrade or alternative to conventionalcoatings (e.g., carbons), the emerging organic moieties on Si offer newavenues toward tuning the interactions with various battery components thatare key to electrochemical performances. The recent progress on understandingSi surfaces is reviewed with an emphasis on newly emerged diagnostic tools,which increasingly points to the critical role of organic components in stabilizingSi. The detailed analysis on the chemistry–structure–performance relationshipsin Si surface are discussed and the successful cases demonstratingthe functions of the organic layers are provided, that is, via tailored interactionstoward electrolyte or binder or conductive agents, are recapped. Varioussynthetic strategies for designing the surface organic layers are discussed andcompared, highlighting the versatility and tunability of surface organic chemistry.The holistic considerations and promising research directions are summarized,shedding light on in-depth understanding and engineering Si surfacechemistry toward practical LIBs application.