Application of Si particles recycled from industrial waste for Si/rGO electrode composition for lithium rechargeable battery production

In this work, a facile synthesis method of silicon/reduced graphene oxide composite (SRC) for lithium ion battery (LIB) production using silicon particles recycled from photovoltaic industrial waste sludge is demonstrated. The surfactant assisted self-assembly is effective in synthesizing homogeneous SRC. The SRC from recycled Si presents a high initial capacity of 1480 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 with stable capacity retention of 65% after 50 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g−1. The rate capability tests show prospective performances of 962 and 623 mAh g−1 at current density of 500 mA g−1 and 2 A g−1, respectively. The high rate capability is attributed to the direct connection of rGO nanosheets on the surface of Si nanoparticles (NPs). This facile surfactant assisted self-assembly synthesis presented in this study is an unprecedented verification of Si particle recycling from industrial waste for lithium rechargeable battery production.