Silicon nanowires with a carbon nanofiber branch as lithium-ion anode material

Si nanowires (SiNWs)–carbon nanofibers (CNFs) branched structures with variation in carbon densities were synthesized. SiNWs with critical density of CNFs show the best electrochemical performance, which is attributed to increase in free volume around the SiNWs as well as a buffering role of the branched CNFs against large volumetric change during cycling.