Silicon lithium-ion battery anode with enhanced performance: Multiple effects of silver nanoparticles

Silicon has been regarded as one of the most promising next generation lithium-ion battery anode. However, the poor cyclic stability of the Si based anode has severely limited its practical applications, which is even worse with high mass loading density (>1 mg cm−2). A new concept has been developed to enhance the electrochemical performance of the Si nanoparticle anode. Silver nanoparticles are composited with the silicon nanoparticles in a facile way for the first time. It is found that the mechanical properties of the Si electrode have been significantly improved by the incorporation of the silver nanoparticles, leading to enhanced cyclic performance. With the Si/Ag mass ratio of 4:1, the reversible specific discharge capacity is retained as 1156 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g−1, which is more than three times higher than that of the bare silicon (318 mA h g−1). The rate performance has been effectively improved as well due to excellent electron conductivity of the silver nanoparticles.