Improved Cycle Properties of All-Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries with Al2O3 Coating on the Silicon-Based Anode

The demand for the development of high-capacity, safe, and long-life secondary batteries and the interest in all-solid-state batteries are increasing. The cycle performance of solid-state batteries is limited by interfacial phenomena at the electrolyte–anode interface hindering the ion diffusions. A multifunctional aluminum oxide (specifically, Al2O3) coating was created for application on silicon-based anodes in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. In an all-solid-state lithium-ion battery, the electrochemical properties of Al2O3 coating were enhanced. The coating was applied to provide stable artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers on the silicon-based anodes. Al2O3 layers not only promote the diffusion of Li+ through the Li–Al–O, but their intrinsically low electronic conductivity also limits the transmission of electrons at the contact between the anode and the electrolyte. A Si alloy–polyacrylonitrile anode was prepared using Al2O3 coating as an artificial SEI layer by radio-frequency (RF) plasma. Radio-frequency sputtering was used to create a simple and economical Al2O3 coating. The cycle properties of silicon-based anodes were enhanced by the addition of the thin amorphous aluminum oxide layer (i.e., Al2O3 coating). After 100 charge–discharge cycles, the half-cell with the Al2O3 layer delivered a discharge capacity of 502.08 mAh g−1 and a capacity retention ratio of 58.86%. After 100 cycles, the sample without the Al2O3 layer had a discharge capacity of 278.48 mAh g−1 and capacity retention of 34.34%. Cells with an Al2O3-coated anode retained high capacity after 100 cycles. Thus, the Al2O3-coated Si-based anodes were cycled successfully in all-solid-state half-cells to produce functional high-performance lithium-ion batteries.