Three-dimensional nitrogen-doped carbon coated hierarchically porous silicon composite as lithium-ion battery anode.

Three-dimensional (3D) Nitrogen-doped carbon coated hierarchically porous silicon (hp-Si@NC) composite with cocontinuous skeletons and abundant interconnected macropores was prepared by a sol-gel route, followed by a magnesiothermic reduction and a polydopamine pyrolyzation. The BET specific surface area and pore volume of the obtained hp-Si@NC composite are calculated to be around 220.4 m2·g─1 and 0.247 cm3·g─1, respectively. Both hierarchically porous Si monolith and hp-Si@NC composite possess great electrochemical performances. The hierarchically porous Si monolith exhibits an initial discharge and charge capacity of about 1943 and 1621 mAh·g─1, and maintains a reversible capacity of about 125 mAh·g─1 in the 100th cycle. The hp-Si@NC composite reveals a discharge capacity of about 1077 mAh·g─1 and a charge capacity of 723 mAh·g─1 in the first cycle, and a reversible capacity of around 700 mAh·g─1 remains after 100 cycles. The coulombic efficiency increases from 67.1% in the first cycle to 97% in the second cycle and to 99% in the 100th cycle, with a great rate performance. All these favorable electrochemical characterizations benefit from unique pore structure and N-doped carbon layer. The hp-Si@NC composite obtained by integrating with sol-gel process, magnesiothermic reduction and polydopamine pyrolyzation can be promisingly applied as an anode in Li-ion batteries with a bright prospect. • Three-dimensional hierarchical porous Si monolith is prepared by a magnesiothermic reduction. • The hp-Si@NC composite possesses interconnected macropores and co-continuous skeletons. • The hierarchically porous hp-Si@NC shows excellent cycling stability and rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]