Preparation and electrochemical performance of SiCN–CNTs composite anode material for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

The composite of silicon carbonitride (SiCN) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was synthesized by sintering the mixture of polysilylethylenediamine-derived amorphous SiCN and multi-walled CNTs at a temperature of 1,000 °C for 1 h in argon. The as-prepared SiCN–CNTs material, which was used as anode active substance in a lithium ion battery, showed excellent electrochemical performance. Charge–discharge tests showed the SiCN–CNTs anode provided a high initial specific discharge capacity of 1176.6 mA h g⁻¹ and a steady specific discharge capacity of 450–400 mA h g⁻¹ after 30 charge–discharge cycles at 0.2 mA cm⁻². Both of the abovementioned values are higher than that of pure polymer-derived SiCN, CNTs, and commercial graphite at the same charge–discharge condition. It was deduced that the CNTs in the composite not only improved the electronic conductivity and offered channels and sites for the immigrating and intercalating of Li⁺ but also stabilized the structure of the composite.