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Nano Research 2024, 17(3): 1516-1524 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-5982-6
Research Article | Issue | Published: 05 August 2023

Cu nanowire array with designed interphases enabling high performance Si anode toward flexible lithium-ion battery

Show Author's Information Pengfei Su1,  Ziqi Zhang3,  Linshan Luo1,  Zhiyong Zhang1,  Chaofei Lan1,  Yahui Li1,  Shaowen Xu1,  Shanpeng Pei4,  Guangyang Lin1,  Cheng Li1,  Xiang Han2( ),  Wei Huang1( ),  Songyan Chen1( )
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Semiconductors and Applications, Collaborative Innovation Center for Optoelectronic Semiconductors and Efficient Devices, Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Science and Technology on Analog Integrated Circuit Laboratory, Chongqing 400060, China
Shandong Electric Power Engineering Consulting Institute Co., Ltd., Jinan 250013, China
Keywords:
magnetron sputtering, silicon anode, flexible lithium-ion battery, Cu nanowire array, core–shell electrode
Topics:
Lithium batteries
Cite this article:
Su P, Zhang Z, Luo L, et al. Cu nanowire array with designed interphases enabling high performance Si anode toward flexible lithium-ion battery. Nano Research, 2024, 17(3): 1516-1524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-5982-6
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

To meet the growing demand for wearable smart electronic devices, the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential. Silicon is an ideal candidate for the anode material of flexible lithium-ion batteries due to its high specific capacity, low working potential, and earth abundance. The largest challenge in developing a flexible silicon anode is how to maintain structural integrity and ensure stable electrochemical reactions during external deformation. In this work, we propose a novel design for fabricating core–shell electrodes based on a copper nanowire (CuNW) array core and magnetron sputtered Si/C shell. The nanowire array structure has characteristics of bending under longitudinal stress and twisting under transverse stress, which helps to maintain the mechanical stability of the structure during electrode bending and cycling. The low-temperature annealing generates a small amount of Cu3Si alloy, which enhances the connection strength between Si and the conductive network and solves the poor conductivity problem of Si, which is known as a semiconductor material. This unique configuration design of CuNW@Si@C-400 °C leads to stable long cycle performance of 1109 mAh∙g−1 after 1000 cycles and excellent rate performance of 500 mAh∙g−1 at a current density of 10 A∙g−1. Furthermore, the CuNW@Si@C-400 °C||LiFePO4 (LFP) full battery demonstrates excellent flexibility, with a capacity retention of more than 96% after 100 bends. This study provides a promising strategy for the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries.


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Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Cu nanowire array with designed interphases enabling high performance Si anode toward flexible lithium-ion battery

Show Author's information Pengfei Su1, Ziqi Zhang3, Linshan Luo1, Zhiyong Zhang1, Chaofei Lan1, Yahui Li1, Shaowen Xu1, Shanpeng Pei4, Guangyang Lin1, Cheng Li1, Xiang Han2( ), Wei Huang1( ), Songyan Chen1( )
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Semiconductors and Applications, Collaborative Innovation Center for Optoelectronic Semiconductors and Efficient Devices, Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Science and Technology on Analog Integrated Circuit Laboratory, Chongqing 400060, China
Shandong Electric Power Engineering Consulting Institute Co., Ltd., Jinan 250013, China

Abstract

To meet the growing demand for wearable smart electronic devices, the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential. Silicon is an ideal candidate for the anode material of flexible lithium-ion batteries due to its high specific capacity, low working potential, and earth abundance. The largest challenge in developing a flexible silicon anode is how to maintain structural integrity and ensure stable electrochemical reactions during external deformation. In this work, we propose a novel design for fabricating core–shell electrodes based on a copper nanowire (CuNW) array core and magnetron sputtered Si/C shell. The nanowire array structure has characteristics of bending under longitudinal stress and twisting under transverse stress, which helps to maintain the mechanical stability of the structure during electrode bending and cycling. The low-temperature annealing generates a small amount of Cu3Si alloy, which enhances the connection strength between Si and the conductive network and solves the poor conductivity problem of Si, which is known as a semiconductor material. This unique configuration design of CuNW@Si@C-400 °C leads to stable long cycle performance of 1109 mAh∙g−1 after 1000 cycles and excellent rate performance of 500 mAh∙g−1 at a current density of 10 A∙g−1. Furthermore, the CuNW@Si@C-400 °C||LiFePO4 (LFP) full battery demonstrates excellent flexibility, with a capacity retention of more than 96% after 100 bends. This study provides a promising strategy for the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries.

Keywords: magnetron sputtering, silicon anode, flexible lithium-ion battery, Cu nanowire array, core–shell electrode

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Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 14 May 2023
Revised: 26 June 2023
Accepted: 03 July 2023
Published: 05 August 2023
Issue date: March 2024

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2023

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22209075), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (No. 2022NSCQ-MSX4268), the Postdoctoral Innovation Talents Support Plan of Chongqing (No. CQBX2021012), and the Scientific Research Project of Fujian Provincial Department of Education (No. JAT220530) are acknowledged.

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