Thermally Induced Gelation‐Derived SiO x /C Anodes Modified With Graphene Oxide for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

SiO x is a promising anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity; nevertheless, its practical application is hampered by structural instability, poor conductivity, and uncontrolled solid electrolyte interface (SEI) growth. This study presents a systematic investigation of graphene oxide (GO) as a multifunctional additive integrated onto SiO x /C anodes for LIBs, where the SiO x /C was synthesized via a thermally induced sol–gel strategy to enhance uniformity and fabrication efficiency. GO loading facilitated the stabilization of the SEI layer, enhancing cycling stability while mitigating continuous electrolyte decomposition. The oxygen‐containing functional groups in GO also helped with pseudocapacitive charge storage, which increased the overall capacity. Furthermore, GO acted as a structural binder, preventing SiO x /C particle aggregation and preserving electrode integrity during prolonged cycling. The resulting 15% GO‐SiO x /C anode unveiled a high reversible capacity of 583.8 mAh g −1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g −1 and a sturdy cycle life of 498.3 mAh g −1 after 350 cycles at 1 A g −1 . Post‐cycling investigations verified the structural integrity of the GO‐loaded electrode, underscoring the effectiveness of GO in mitigating volume expansion and fostering stable SEI generation.