The preparation of a novel Si–CNF composite as an effective anodic material for lithium–ion batteries

The suggested pyrolytic carbon (PC) coated Si-carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites can be a solution to provide higher discharge capacity and cycle-ability facilitating the 1st cycle coulombic efficiency of cheap metallic Si particles as an appropriate anodic material for Li-ion battery. The CNFs on the surface of Si particle can provide flexible space to relieve volumetric expansion during charge. Well-controlled PC coating on the surface of Si particle can improve the coherence of CNFs on the Si particle, thereby to enhance the role of CNF as all the more effective electrode material. The additional PC coating on the Si–CNF composite can accomplish the lower surface area and afford the improvement of the 1st cycle coulombic efficiency. Ingenious combinations of PC coating and CNF compositeness successfully made the novel type Si–CNF composite to achieve a remarkable discharge capacity (1115 mA h g−1), an excellent cycle-ability (77% retention rate after 20th cycle), and a good 1st cycle coulombic efficiency (79%) for the effective application as an anode material.