Summary: | Silicon is a worthy substitute anode material for lithium-ion batteries because it offers high theoretical capacity and low working potentials vs. Li<sup>+</sup>/Li. However, immense volume changes and the low intrinsic conductivity of Si hampers its practical applications. In this study, nano/micro silicon particles are achieved by ball milling silicon mesh powder as a scalable process. Subsequent metal (Cu/Fe/Mn) doping into nano/micro silicon by low-temperature annealing, followed by high-temperature annealing with graphite, gives a metal-doped silicon/graphite composite. The obtained composites were studied as anodes for Li-ion batteries, and they delivered high reversible capacities of more than 1000 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> with improved Li<sup>+</sup> diffusion properties. The full cells from these composite anodes vs. LiCoO<sub>2</sub> cathodes delivered suitable energy densities for Li<sup>+</sup> storage applications. The enhanced electrochemical properties are accredited to the synergistic effect of metal doping and graphite addition to silicon and exhibit potential for suitable Li<sup>+</sup> energy storage applications.
|