Dissolution-regrowth synthesis of SiO_2 nanoplates and embedment into two carbon shells for enhanced lithium-ion storage

In this work, SiO2 nanoplates with opened macroporous structure on carbon layer （C-mSiO2） have been obtained by dissolving and subsequent ingrowing the outer solid SiO2 layer of the aerosol-based C-SiO2 double-shell hollow spheres. Subsequently, triple-shell C-mSiO2-C hollow spheres were successfully prepared after coating the C- mSiO2 templates by the carbon layer from the carbonization of sucrose. When being applied as the anode material fur lithium-ion batteries, the C-mSiO2-C triple-shell hollow spheres deliver a high capacity of 501 mA. h.g- 1 after 100 cycles at 500 mA.g-1 （based on the total mass of silica and the two carbon shells）, which is higher than those of C-mSiO2 （391 mA.h.g 1） spheres with an outer porous SiO2 layer, C-SiO2-C （370 mA-h.g-1） hollow spheres with a middle solid Si02 layer, and C-SiO2 （319.8 mA·h-g-1） spheres with an outer solid SiO2 layer. In addition, the battery still delivers a high capacity of 403 mA· h· g- 1 at a current density of 1000 mA· g- 1 after 400 cycles. The good electrochemical performance can be attributed to the high surface area （246.7 m2·g- 1 ） and pore volume （0.441 cm3· g-1） of the anode materials, as well as the unique structure of the outer and inner carbon layer which not only enhances electrical conductivity, structural stability, but buffers volume change of the intermediate SiO2 layer during repeated charge-discharge processes. Furthermore, the SiO2 nanoplates with opened macroporous structure facilitate the electrolyte transport and electrochemical reaction.

In this work, SiO_2 nanoplates with opened macroporous structure on carbon layer(C-mSiO_2) have been obtained by dissolving and subsequent regrowing the outer solid SiO_2 layer of the aerosol-based C-SiO_2 double-shell hollow spheres. Subsequently, triple-shell C-mSiO_2-C hollow spheres were successfully prepared after coating the Cm SiO_2 templates by the carbon layer from the carbonization of sucrose. When being applied as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the C-mSiO_2-C triple-shell hollow spheres deliver a high capacity of 501 mA ·h·g^(-1) after100 cycles at 500 m A·g^(-1)(based on the total mass of silica and the two carbon shells), which is higher than those of C-mSiO-12(391 m A·h·g^(-1)) spheres with an outer porous SiO_2 layer, C-SiO_2-C(370 m A·h·g) hollow spheres with a middle solid SiO_2 layer, and C-SiO_2(319.8 m A·h·g^(-1)) spheres with an outer solid SiO_2 layer. In addition,the battery still delivers a high capacity of 403 m A·h·g^(-1) at a current density of 1000 m A·g^(-1) after 400 cycles.The good electrochemical performance can be attributed to the high surface area(246.7 m^2·g^(-1)) and pore volume(0.441 cm^3·g^(-1)) of the anode materials, as well as the unique structure of the outer and inner carbon layer which not only enhances electrical conductivity, structural stability, but buffers volume change of the intermediate SiO_2 layer during repeated charge–discharge processes. Furthermore, the SiO_2 nanoplates with opened macroporous structure facilitate the electrolyte transport and electrochemical reaction.