Application of silicon nanotechnology in lithium-ion battery anodes

The lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are considered one of the significant parts of an electric vehicle and have become a hot research topic regarding how to improve the lifespan and energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Silicon, which has excellent electric conductivity and high specific capacity, could vastly improve performance and electric conductivity compared with graphite-based lithium-ion batteries. However, the issue of silicon volume expansion and the formation of solid electrolytes hinder the use of pure silicon as anodes. With the prevalence of nanotechnology, using silicon as a marvelous substitute for graphite anodes is possible again as silicon nanotechnology could dramatically alleviate the volume expansion issue and improve the performance on a large scale. As a result, the application of silicon nanotechnology in lithium-ion batteries seems promising in the next several years. In this paper, the working principle of LIBs is first summarized. Then, the shortcomings of current silicon-based materials as negative electrodes are presented. Finally, the application of nanotechnology in the negative electrode of silicon-based LIBs is discussed, highlighting the role of different dimensions of silicon nanomaterials in LIBs.