Scalable synthesis of ant-nest-like bulk porous silicon for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract Although silicon is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, scalable synthesis of silicon anodes with good cyclability and low electrode swelling remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a scalable top-down technique to produce ant-nest-like porous silicon from magnesium-silicon alloy. The ant-nest-like porous silicon comprising three-dimensional interconnected silicon nanoligaments and bicontinuous nanopores can prevent pulverization and accommodate volume expansion during cycling resulting in negligible particle-level outward expansion. The carbon-coated porous silicon anode delivers a high capacity of 1,271 mAh g −1 at 2,100 mA g −1 with 90% capacity retention after 1,000…

• CU
  City University of Hong Kong

  Awards: 9667122, 11205617, No. 9667122, CityU 11205617
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51572100, 21703185, 2016JCTD101, 21875080, 2018AAA011, 51504171, 61434001
• WN
  Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics
• JU
  Jimei University
• UO
  University of Science and Technology of China
• NS
  National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
• WY
  Wuhan Yellow Crane Talents Program