Researchers publish perspective on silicon-based microparticle anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Silicon is one of the most promising anode materials for high-energy lithium-ion batteries. However, silicon-based anodes are not yet widely used due to a series of challenges that must be addressed before silicon can be commercially used in lithium-ion batteries.

A research team from Huazhong University of Science and Technology has published a review paper that summarizes the challenges, outlines current strategies for fabricating silicon-based anodes, and examines the future prospects for silicon-based anodes. this promising. positive pole material.

Their opinion is published in the journal Nano Research Energy.

“In this review, we aim to provide some valuable guidance for the practical application of silicon-based anodes on a microscopic scale by summarizing the development of silicon-based electrodes. fabricated by commercial silicon microparticles from an industrialization perspective, such as raw materialsXianluo Hu, a professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

While silicon has strong potential as an anode candidate for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, there are still some challenges to overcome. First, the team noted that nanotechnology, which allows the electrode structural stability and long-term cycling, do not meet the requirements of industrial applications. This is due to the low nozzle density, significant side reactions, low volumetric capacity and complex manufacturing processes with low yields.

Second, the team notes that although the design of the microscopic silicon-based anode has significantly improved the overall performance of the electrode, the manufacturing process still includes complex fabrication steps. complex. These complex steps lead to higher energy consumption, environmental pollution and low productivity.

In addition, the team also noted that many microscopic silicon materials still use nanoparticles as raw materials. These nanoparticles are impractical for large-scale production. Therefore, scientists continue to search for simple and environmentally friendly ways to achieve low-cost production of silicon-based materials in lithium-ion batteries.

In reviewing the prospect of future commercialization of silicon-based anodes, they note that maintaining the integrity of the electrode structure to ensure stable cycle performance is of vital importance when using using low-grade silicon-based materials as the silicon source. Although the combination of porous silicon microparticles and hybrid composites has been studied extensively, not many studies have been performed regarding the breakdown mechanism analysis of the micro-sized silicon designed to next.

The team notes that the adhesive materials, which hold the active matter particles inside the battery’s electrode, play an important role in keeping structural integrity. They recommend that the development of a multifunctional polymeric binder with self-healing and conductive properties will help improve the mechanical strength of the electrodes and build an expanded conductive network. With high structural advantages, polymers of natural origin will be more successful in this role.

“Silicon has great potential as a anode material for high energy density lithium-ion batteries. Building highly stable silicon microparticle electrodes from a technology perspective that is simple, scalable, safe and sustainable is challenging and important, Hu said.

Looking ahead, the team notes that analysis of the failure mechanism of engineered silicon microscales is still lacking based on multiphysics and scale fields. Scientists need to develop in situ analytical techniques to clarify the relationship between design strategy and electrode performance.

For example, the effect of pore distribution on stress dispersion, development of active grain structure and the dependence of surface chemistry and electric field distribution on carbon transformation requires deep understanding. They propose that the development of simple, green, efficient, controllable and energy-saving composite technology is key to meeting the requirements of industrial production.

“We hope to realize low-cost adoption siliconmaterials based in full cells through electrode material design, electrolyte optimization and adhesive innovation in a simple and eco-friendly way,” said Hu.

Provided by Tsinghua University Press