Silicon anode systems for lithium-ion batteries

Silicon (Si) is considered as one of the most promising high-capacity anode materials for application in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Its environmentally friendly nature, abundance, and low cost, make it an attractive candidate for the next generation LIBs. However, the successful implementation of Si-based anodes in LIBs is seriously hindered by their huge volume expansion (more than 300% in the lithiated state) and the instability of the solid-electrolyte interphase layer (SEI). The poor mechanical stability and chemical passivation properties make the cyclability of Si electrodes far from being able to meet the requirements for battery systems and have motivated a great number of studies to mitigate and address these limitations. In this chapter, an overview of the research devoted to Si electrodes for LIBs is presented from a material and an electrode perspective, highlighting the material’s fundamental properties and the deriving electrode behavior. The strategies associated with nano-structuring of Si combined with the elaboration of composite materials, aimed at improving the electrode cyclability, are also discussed in addition to the unique nature of the Si /electrolyte interphase.