Surface modification of silicon nanowires via drop-casting for high-performance Li-ion battery electrodes: SiNWs decorated with molybdenum oxide nanoparticles

The functionalization of molybdenum oxide (MoO3) nanoparticles is presented as a method to significantly enhance the cycling stability of lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes based on silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays. Transition-metal oxides have emerged as promising candidates for advanced anode materials in modern Li-ion batteries. In this study, we explore a novel approach involving the deposition of MoO3 nanoparticles via unique drop-casting technique onto pre-fabricated SiNW arrays, fabricated using a straightforward one-step metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) process. The primary objective is to assess their potential suitability as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. Our methodology entails the top-down synthesis of binder-free hybrid electrodes, achieved by depositing Mo oxides nanostructures onto SiNW arrays through a combination of drop-casting and thermal annealing processes. The resulting MoO3@SiNWs hybrid structure exhibits distinctive and specialized attributes, including exceptional structural resilience, diminutive particle dimensions, and a porous configuration. These features effectively enhance electron and ion accessibility at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Electrochemical assessments reveal that the MoO3@SiNWs hybrids exhibit superior lithium storage performance compared to bare SiNW electrodes. Particularly under high current densities, MoO3 nanoparticles deposited via drop-casting technique demonstrate improved cycling stability and increased capacity. The enhanced electrochemical characteristics are primarily ascribed to the synergistic effects between the MoO3 nanoparticles and SiNW arrays. The findings of this study strongly suggest that the MoO3@SiNWs hybrid structure holds substantial promise as anode materials for high-performance energy storage devices.