Lithium insertion in Si-TiC nanocomposite materials produced by high-energy mechanical milling

Silicon and titanium carbide (TiC) nanocomposites were synthesized using a high-energy ball-milling technique. X-ray diffraction analyses show that the nanocomposite consists of amorphous silicon and nanocrystalline titanium carbide. The electrochemically inactive TiC working as a buffer matrix successfully prevents Si from cracking/crumbling during the charging/discharging process. The nanocomposite containing 40 mol% silicon obtained after milling for 4 h exhibits a stable capacity of ∼380 mAh g−1, suggesting its promising nature in anode materials for the lithium ion battery.