Engineering Silicon–Carbon Anodes via Chemical Vapor Deposition and Hydrothermal Strategies: A Comparative Analysis

Silicon (Si)-based materials are prime candidates for superseding conventional graphite in next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their exceptional theoretical specific capacities. Nevertheless, their commercial viability is hindered by massive volumetric fluctuations during cycling. Herein, two core–shell composites, Si@acetylene-derived carbon (Si@ACC) and Si@glucose-derived carbon (Si@GCC), were synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and hydrothermal–carbonization processes, respectively. The differences between the two carbon shells and their impacts on electrochemical performance are systematically compared. Notably, the carbon layer prepared by the CVD strategy enables a high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 95.98%. In this core–shell design, the conformal carbon shell buffers expansive stresses while providing rapid electron transport pathways, thereby improving structural integrity and accelerating electrochemical kinetics. The Si@ACC electrode retains 66.33% of its capacity after 300 cycles at 1.0 A g −1 . Moreover, a full-cell with a Si@ACC/graphite anode is assembled, delivering an ICE of 83.78% and a capacity retention rate of 66.49% over 200 cycles. Our strategy involves a simple synthesis process to prepare anode material that exhibits improved cycling stability and offers a promising pathway toward realizing the commercial potential of Si anodes for advanced LIBs.