Silicon Carbide-Based Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Green View

Abstract

Silicon carbide (SiC) has evolved from an inert structure to a potential candidate for lithium storage, offering an attractive alternative to graphite and silicon anodes. This review unifies experimental insights and theoretical predictions to elucidate the mechanisms that govern lithiation, conversion, alloying, and interfacial storage while clarifying the roles of polytype, nanostructure, and defect chemistry. Emphasis is placed on sustainable synthesis routes that valorize biomass and industrial residues, alongside aqueous and bioderived binders that couple interfacial stability with green processing. By benchmarking bare SiC and heterostructured composites against state-of-the-art anodes, we expose unresolved controversies, highlight design principles for nanoscale activation, and identify pathways toward scalable low-carbon fabrication. This review establishes SiC as more than a mechanistic curiosity, positioning it as a viable and sustainable anode candidate, and provides a critical roadmap for accelerating the rational design of next-generation lithium-ion batteries.