Interfacial design of silicon/carbon anodes for rechargeable batteries: A review

Silicon (Si) has been studied as a promising alloying type anode for lithium-ion batteries due to its high specific capacity, low operating potential and abundant resources. Nevertheless, huge volume expansion during alloying/dealloying processes and low electronic conductivity of Si anodes restrict their electrochemical performance. Thus, carbon (C) materials with special physical and chemical properties are applied in Si anodes to effectively solve these problems. This review focuses on current status in the exploration of Si/C anodes, including the lithiation mechanism and solid electrolyte interface formation, various carbon sources in Si/C anodes, such as traditional carbon sources (graphite, pitch, biomass), and novel carbon sources (MXene, graphene, MOFs-derived carbon, graphdiyne, etc.), as well as interfacial bonding modes of Si and C in the Si/C anodes. Finally, we summarize and prospect the selection of carbonaceous materials, structural design and interface control of Si/C anodes, and application of Si/C anodes in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries et al. This review will help researchers in the design of novel Si/C anodes for rechargeable batteries.