Minjun Je1,Soojin Park1
Pohang University of Science and Technology1
Minjun Je1,Soojin Park1
Pohang University of Science and Technology1
High-capacity silicon (Si) materials hold a position at the forefront of advanced lithium-ion batteries. The inherent potential offers considerable advantages for substantially increasing the energy density in batteries, capable of maximizing the benefit by changing the paradigm from nano- to micron-sized Si particles. Nevertheless, intrinsic structural instability remains a significant barrier to its practical application, especially for larger Si particles. Here, we first report a covalently interconnected system employing silicon microparticles (5 μm) and a highly elastic gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) through electron beam irradiation. The integrated system mitigates the substantial volumetric expansion of pure Si, enhancing overall stability, while accelerating charge carrier kinetics due to the high ionic conductivity. Through the cost-effective but practical approach of electron beam technology, the resulting 500 mAh-pouch cell showed exceptional stability and a high volumetric energy density of 1022 Wh L<sup>-1</sup>, highlighting the feasibility even in current battery production lines.