Design and Investigation of Nanosilicon Powder Preparation Using an Electro‐Explosion Method

Electroburst technology is widely used in the field of metal processing for various applications, including the preparation of ultrafine powders and material surface coatings, but is less common in the field of non‐metallic applications. In this study, nanosilicon powder is prepared using in‐house designed electroburst equipment. Using micron‐sized industrial‐grade silicon powder as the raw material, the electroburst equipment is employed to apply a high voltage of 16 kV in an argon atmosphere across both ends of a carrier bar loaded with the powder, which is broken into nanosilicon powder under the effect of Joule heat and shock waves. The prepared nanosilicon powder is characterized via X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering, and the results show that it comprised silicon monomers. The overall particle size of the nanosilicon samples is more uniform and significantly smaller compared to that of the raw material, with an average particle size of 89 nm while retaining the polycrystalline structures at the nanoscale. Finally, the prepared nanosilicon powder is tested in a button cell assembly, and the results show that its discharge and charge capacities are 2360.4 and 1901.2 mAh g −1 , respectively. The proposed electroburst method offers a new approach to nanosilica powder preparation.