A SiOx-Based Anode in a High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Battery

Herein we report a novel synthetic procedure for the preparation of a SiOx-based nano-composite involving gelification of resorcinol-formaldehyde and tetraethyl orthosilicate. The composite is characterized as anode material in lithium-ion battery. The micrometric, amorphous material has a characteristic nanostructured configuration and shows an electrochemical process involving both the Li-Si alloying and the Li-insertion into the hard carbon matrix. The electrode reveals in lithium half-cell a relatively low impedance and a reversible capacity ranging from 650 mAh g-1 at the lower current to 400 mAh g-1 at high current regimes, with cycle life extending to 200 cycles. The anode is combined with a high voltage, LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 spinel cathode in a 4.3 V lithium ion battery delivering a capacity of about 115 mAh g-1 and operating at the high rate of 5C. The suitable synthesis pathway, the low cost and the promising electrochemical behavior suggest the nano-composite anode for application in high performance lithium-ion battery.