Revisit of metallothermic reduction for macroporous Si: compromise between capacity and volume expansion for practical Li-ion battery

Shape-reserving macroporous Si/Al2O3 composite can be synthesized by two-step metallothermic reaction. This process enables us to control a reversible capacity of a volume expansion of Si-base anode materials for practical lithium-ion battery applications. Optimized Si-based composite electrodes show a reversible capacity of 1500 mAh g−1 at C/5 with minimized volume expansion (<35%) after 100 cycles.177