Tailoring the Surface of Silicon Nanoparticles for Enhanced Chemical and Electrochemical Stability for Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Organic monolayers of epoxy-containing oligo(ethylene oxide)s were grafted to the surface of silicon nanoparticles via a hydrosilylation reaction. The surface functional groups suppressed the chemical and electrochemical reactivity of the as-grown and lithiated silicon nanoparticles with high material utilization. A robust Si/electrolyte interphase was formed with the participation of the grafted organic groups with facilitated Li+ transfer and was further enforced by electrode integrity via the epoxy/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) binder reaction. The improved cycling stability and post-test analysis indicate that surface functionalization on the Si particle level is a feasible approach to enabling a Si anode in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.