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Metallurgy of aluminum-inspired formation of aluminosilicate-coated nanosilicon for lithium-ion battery anode

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Abstract

Modification of Si anode with various coating matrixes is a promising strategy to resolve the unstable solid electrolyte interphase issues. However, the complex preparation process and inherently weak interaction between Si and other matrixes impede its practical application. Inspired by the metallurgical process of aluminum, an aluminosilicate matrix was prepared as coating layer on the surface of Si nanoparticles after heat treatment. Si nanoparticles with a uniform native oxide layer were used as seed crystals for the adsorption of aluminum hydroxide. The strong symbiosis and bond between alumina and silica, such as mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2) or kaolin (Al2O3·SiO2·2H2O), provide homogeneous and durable contact coating layer. The as-produced Si/SiO2·Al2O3 composite delivers a charge capacity of 1440 mAh·g−1 at 100 mA·g−1 and remains 879 mAh·g−1 at 3 A·g−1. After 200 cycles, the capacity retention remains high at 76%. The enhanced properties were ascribed to SiO2·Al2O3 synergistic composite coating layer, which could hinder the interfacial side chemical reaction and buffer volume change of Si.

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摘要

选择合适的材料对硅进行表面改性可有效解决固体电解质界面不稳定问题。然而, 硅与其他材料之间界面相容性差以及改性方法复杂等问题阻碍了其实际应用。 将具有均匀原生氧化层的纳米硅为晶种诱导铝酸钠溶液中的氢氧化铝沉淀, 从而合成铝硅酸盐包覆的纳米硅负极材料。氧化铝和二氧化硅之间的强共生性和粘结性保证了包覆层的均匀和持久。 所制备的Si/SiO2·Al2O3复合材料在100 mA·g-1下的充电容量为1440 mAh·g-1, 在3 A·g-1下的充电容量为879 mAh·g-1。循环200圈后的容量保持率高达76%。 结果表明, 铝硅酸盐可有效抑制纳米硅的界面副反应和体积膨胀问题。

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52004103, 51974137 and 51774150), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2020M671361), and Jiangsu Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2020Z090).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Material Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Yu Zhou, Peng-Hu Niu, Zhong-Hua Li, Pan-Pan Zhang, Ming-Ru Su, Ai-Chun Dou, Xiao-Wei Li & Yun-Jian Liu

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  1. Yu Zhou
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Zhou, Y., Niu, PH., Li, ZH. et al. Metallurgy of aluminum-inspired formation of aluminosilicate-coated nanosilicon for lithium-ion battery anode. Rare Met. 41, 1880–1888 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-022-01961-y

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