Electrochemical performance of Si-multiwall carbon nanotube nanocomposite anode synthesized by thermal plasma

•Si-Multiwall carbon nanotube nanocomposite was synthesized by thermal plasma.•The effect on the collection position of product after experiment was examined.•Cycle performance of electrodes was measured.•Product collected from chamber showed good electrochemical performance.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are widely used in electric devices and vehicles. Silicon is a promising material for the anode of Li-ion battery due to high theoretical specific capacity. However, it shows large volume changes during charge–discharge cycles leading to the pulverization of electrode. In order to improve such disadvantage, a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) has been used with silicon as composite material. In this work, Si-MWCNT nanocomposite was prepared in thermal plasma by attaching silicon nanoparticles to MWCNT column. Electrochemical tests for raw materials and synthesized nanocomposites were carried out. The discharge capacities of silicon, MWCNT, synthesized nanocomposites collected from a reaction tube, and a chamber were 4000, 310, 200, and 1447 mAh/g, respectively.