In-situ growth amorphous carbon nanotube on silicon particles as lithium-ion battery anode materials

A novel silicon core/amorphous carbon nanotube (ACNT) shell composite that can be used as lithium-ion batteries anode material was in-situ synthesized in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth process. The hypothesized core/shell structure was evidenced by SEM/TEM/XRD, suggesting that the ACNTs composed of carbon clusters with short-range order and long-range disorder were successfully deposited onto the surface of the silicon particles. This Si/ACNT composite delivered a high capacity of 1496 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹, and a superior cycling stability with 80% capacity retention after 300 cycles. This observed specific capacity improvement of Si/ACNT composite is likely attributed to the formed three-dimensional conductive networks between silicon particles and interwoven ACNTs in the composite.