Enhancing Fast Charge–Discharge Behavior of C/SiO₂ Anodes by Silver Nanoparticle Integration Through a Facile Fabrication Method

Abstract Silicon‐based anode materials are widely considered leading candidates for the next generation of lithium‐ion batteries due to their exceptional theoretical capacity. Among them, C/SiO 2 derived from rice husks stands out for its environmental friendliness, abundant availability, and cost‐effectiveness. However, its conductivity requires further enhancement to improve high‐rate performance. To address this challenge, nano‐silver, known for its superior electronic conductivity, is incorporated into the anode. The addition of silver nanoparticles increases the density of charge carriers, thereby enhancing conductivity. Moreover, these nanoparticles form a conductive network within the C/SiO 2 structure, reducing material resistance and ensuring even dispersion. In this study, a silver nanosolution (∼1000 ppm) was synthesized using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surface stabilizer and sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) as a reducing agent. Various silver concentrations were introduced and analyzed to determine the optimal ratio for the C/SiO 2 anode. The particle size ranges from 20 to 50 nm, with an average diameter of 36 ± 4 nm. The X‐ray diffraction of C/SiO 2 /Ag electrodes clearly shows a peak at 23–24° (characteristic of SiO 2 , a peak at 43° featured of carbon and another peak at 38° corresponding to (111) plane of silver. The outstanding conductive agent of silver nanoparticles could be applied for a high‐performance lithium‐ion battery C/SiO 2 anode. The C/SiO 2 /Ag electrodes exhibit an impressive high rate performance (∼70 mAh g −1 at 2 A g −1 ). Furthermore, this research highlights the potential of nanotechnology in advancing rechargeable battery performance.