Three-dimensional carbon-coating silicon nanoparticles welded on carbon nanotubes composites for high-stability lithium-ion battery anodes

Although silicon (Si) is regarded as one of promising anode materials in next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the high specific capacity, commercial application is stifled by the large volume effect and small electric conductivity . Using rice husk (RH) biomass as nano Si source (RH-Nano Si), here we designed and fabricated the three-dimensional (3D) carbon-hybridized nano-Si hierarchical architecture composite (RH-Nano Si@C/CNT) via assembling Si with CNT by the self-electrostatic route, reinforcing by hydrothermal treating in a glucose solution, and calcination in Ar. In RH-Nano Si@C/CNT, the Si nanoparticles are anchored on the 3D conductive CNT network by the glucose-derived carbon through welding and coating, thus providing enhanced electrical contact and high structural integrity. As anode materials, RH-Nano Si@C/CNT exhibits improved rate capability and prolonged cycling stability compared to Si and CNT self-electrostatic sample. Boasting a high reversible capacity of 989.5 mAh g −1 at 0.5C (1C = 4.2 A g −1 ) and 345 mAh g −1 at 3C as well as low capacity decay of 0.035% per cycles after 1000 cycles, RH-Nano Si@C/CNT produced by this technique is promising as anodes in LIBs.