Nanoscale engineered electrochemically active silicon–CNT heterostructures-novel anodes for Li-ion application

Heterostructures of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanostructured silicon were synthesized on quartz substrates using a simple 2 step liquid injection chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach. The CVD conditions and the process parameters were modified to engineer droplets and thin film morphologies of silicon on the CNTs. The combined influence of these Si morphologies on the electrochemical performance was then studied. Structural analyses conducted on the heterostructures using XRD and Raman spectroscopy indicated the existence of nanocrystalline and amorphous phases of silicon. Cycling performance of these heterostructures exhibit very high specific discharge capacities in excess of 2300 mAh/g accompanied by a low irreversible loss (10%) for a loading density of ∼2–3 mg/cm2 demonstrating the use of these heterostructures as next generation lithium-ion anodes.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Generation of vertically aligned Si/CNT heterostructures with novel Si morphologies. ► Nanoscale Si droplets show better cyclability than Si films on CNT. ► Stable capacity in excess of 2300 mAh/g for loading density of 2–3 mg/cm2. ► Low first cycle irreversible loss of only 10% seen for both Si morphologies.