Journal of Material Chemistry.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nHarnessing the power of silicon<\/h3>\n
Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth, making up 27.7% of the planet’s crust, and has the potential to make highly efficient metal ion batteries. As alternative energy storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular, the need to harness silicon’s excellent specific energy capacity as an electrode material is becoming essential.<\/p>\n
However, utilising silicon-based electrode materials on a commercial scale is often hindered for two reasons. Firstly, the lack of mechanical stability caused by uncontrolled volume expansion upon lithiation \u2013 the process of combing silicon with a lithium-ion. And secondly, the rapid energy loss caused by unstable solid-electrode interface (SEI) formation.<\/p>\n
Scientists have devised numerous advanced silicon-based negative electrodes or anode materials to mitigate these issues, with the most popular being silicon nanomaterials. Despite this, silicon nanomaterials still experience some shortcomings, such as a large demand and supply gap, difficult and expensive synthesis, and fast battery dry-up.<\/p>\n
Professor Noriyoshi Matsumi, the leader of the research from JAIST, said: “Silicon nanoparticles might provide increased effective surface area, but that comes with its own drawbacks like increased consumption of electrolyte as well as poor initial coulombic efficiency after a few cycles of charging and discharging. SiMPs are the most appropriate, low-cost, and easily available alternatives, especially when combined with materials that have exceptional structural properties, such as silicon oxycarbide black glasses. Our material is not only high performing but also conducive to scale opportunities.”<\/p>\n
Advancing lithium-ion batteries with SiMPs<\/h3>\n
The JAIST researchers developed a core-shell type material in which the core consisted of SiMP coated in a layer of carbon, with silicon oxycarbide black glasses then grafted on as the shell layer. The materials were subsequently utilised in an anodic half-cell configuration to analyse their ability to reversibly store lithium under different potential windows.<\/p>\n