High-performance silicon/graphite anode prepared by CVD using SiCl4 as precursor for Li-ion batteries

Graphite/silicon composite anode shows increased capacity but suffering from the volume expansion of Si during cycling. Herein, we reported a facile chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) as precursor to deposit silicon into graphite to prepare composite as anode for Li-ion batteries. Si can be deposit as the nano-sized particles in the open spaces of graphite, and closely attached on the graphite flakes. Such architecture effectively increased the contact between Si and graphite, and provided semi-enveloping confinement for Si volume change. Typically, the composite anode with 10% Si could maintain above 600 mAh/g for 100 cycles.