AUTHOR=Zeng Hong , He Yawen , Chamas Mohamad 

TITLE=Si/Cu composite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Energy Research

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.968259

DOI=10.3389/fenrg.2022.968259

ISSN=2296-598X

ABSTRACT=<p>An Si/Cu composite anode was prepared using a facile solid mechanosynthesis method and wet chemical etching. Phase transition and morphologies were investigated on pristine and as-synthesized composites. Effects of presence of Al<sub>80</sub>Si<sub>20</sub> and super <italic>p</italic> carbon on ball-milling were investigated. Moreover, the etching effect was compared with that of pristine Cu–Zn and composites by addition of NH<sub>4</sub>Cl. The results of X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning-electron-microscopy morphological images, and focus-ion-beam/energy-dispersive mapping demonstrated that the formation of the intermetallic, elemental distribution, homogeneity, and dezincification is involved with the addition of Al, super <italic>p</italic> carbon, and etching additive NH<sub>4</sub>Cl. Super <italic>p</italic> carbon avoided the formation of Cu–Si, while Al made the more homogenous distribution of Si/Cu. The two synthesized types of Si/Cu composites deliver specific capacity/retention rates of 608 mAhg<sup>−1</sup>/66.4% (Si/Cu from pure Si) and 707 mAhg<sup>−1</sup>/81.1% (Si/Cu from Al<sub>80</sub>Si<sub>20</sub>) after 200 cycles, respectively. The higher stability of the galvanostatic cycling and capability performance resulted from the homogeneity of Si and Cu.</p>