Life cycle assessment of lithium-ion batteries with carbon-coated silicon-graphite composite anodes: impact of silicon content on cradle-to-gate environmental footprint.

Abstract

Silicon has garnered increased attention as a potential next-generation anode for lithium-ion batteries due to its abundant availability and remarkable theoretical specific capacity. This study utilizes a life cycle assessment approach to analyze the cradle-to-gate environmental implications of a 1 kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery featuring a carbon-coated silicon-graphite composite anode with varying silicon content ranging from 5 to 100%. The outcomes are compared with those of a 1 kWh graphite-lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery. The findings indicate that within silicon-based LIBs, batteries with higher silicon content exhibit reduced environmental impacts due to their enhanced specific capacity. At 5% silicon, the life cycle impacts are comparable to those of graphite-based LIBs, and significant reductions in impacts can be achieved by increasing the silicon content. Moreover, emissions during the manufacturing phase can be reduced by adopting renewable energy sources or an energy mix that is less reliant on fossil fuels.