Self-template construction of mesoporous silicon submicrocube anode for advanced lithium ion batteries

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) porous silicon has been widely studied as an exceptional anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to its extraordinary theoretical capacity and high structural stability. The self-sacrificing template is an effective route to synthesize 3D porous Si. Herein, we report the high quality of mesoporous silicon submicrocube (CM-Si) derived from zeolite SSZ-13 template through a facilely modified magnesiothermic reduction method. The CM-Si architecture possesses a 3D porous interconnected silicon network composed of Si nanoparticles (5–10 nm). Carbon-coated CM-Si (CM-Si@C) anodes exhibit a high reversible capacity of 1338 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 with an outstanding capacity retention of 77.6% after 200 cycles and an excellent rate capability (740 mAh g−1 at 30 A g−1 after 200 cycles). Furthermore, full cells consisting of CM-Si@C anodes and LiFePO4 cathodes deliver good cycling performance and high energy density. Thus, this synthetic strategy exploit the potency of unique CM-Si@C as anode materials for advanced LIBs.