Electrochemical Activation of Carbon Coated SiO₂ based Anode for High Performance Li-Ion Battery

SiO₂ is recognized as a highly promising anode material for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) due to its cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and comparatively high capacity (1962.7 mAh g^-1), in contrast to SiO (2675 mAh g^-1). Nonetheless, the practical utilization of SiO₂ is significantly hampered by its limited electrochemical activity resulting from its low electrical conductivity. To address this issue, numerous researchers are focusing on the development of carbon coated SiO₂ (C@SiO₂), where carbon functions as a conductor layer to enhance its electrochemical performance. In our study, we successfully synthesized C@SiO₂ and activated it through subjecting the half-cell to potentiostatic aging at 2 mV, leading to the formation of Li₄SiO₄ and Si. This activation process revealed that the high capacity of C@SiO₂ demonstrated approximately 820 mAh g^-1, whereas the pristine SiO₂ only exhibited around 260 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 100 mA g^-1. Furthermore, the coulombic efficiency (C.E.) of C@SiO₂ exhibited a higher value of 97 %, in contrast to pristine SiO₂, which demonstrated 87 %, even after repeated activation processes. Considering the efficacy of the optimized activation method and the superior lithium storage capabilities, the C@SiO₂ composite holds significant promise for practical applications in LIBs.