One-pot synthesis of high-capacity silicon anodes via on-copper growth of a semiconducting, porous polymer

Abstract

Silicon-based anodes with lithium ions as charge carriers have the highest predicted theoretical specific capacity of 3579 mA h g⁻¹ (for Li₁₅Si₄). Contemporary electrodes do not achieve this theoretical value largely because conventional production paradigms rely on the mixing of weakly coordinated components. In this paper, a semiconductive triazine-based graphdiyne polymer network is grown around silicon nanoparticles directly on the current collector, a copper sheet. The porous, semiconducting organic framework (1) adheres to the current collector on which it grows via cooperative van der Waals interactions, (2) acts effectively as conductor for electrical charges and binder of silicon nanoparticles via conjugated, covalent bonds, and (3) enables selective transport of electrolyte and Li-ions through pores of defined size. The resulting anode shows extraordinarily high capacity at the theoretical limit of fully lithiated silicon. Finally, we combine our anodes in proof-of-concept battery assemblies using a conventional layered Ni-rich oxide cathode.