Preparation of layered Si materials as anode for lithium-ion batteries

The structure fracture of silicon electrodes due to the volume change during Si-Li alloying reactions greatly hinders their practical applications. Herein a layered Si material (LSM) was prepared by a simple one-step topological reaction and used as an effective LIBs anode. The layered structure has abundant gaps and pores to accelerate ion transportation. Microstructure measurements demonstrate the formation of an amorphous lithiation product but not Si-Li alloys. As a result, the LSM anode shows higher specific capacity and a much better cycling performance than common bulk Si anode. Thus, the LSM could be alternative high-performance Si anode in LIBs.