Silicon Nanosheet Synthesis via Silicon Tetrachloride Reduction with Facilely Produced Aluminum Templates for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Journal
Energy Technology
ISSN
2194-4288
2194-4296
Date Issued
2025-06
Author(s)
Abstract
Metal reduction of silicon gases is a widely explored route for synthesizing low-dimensional nanosilicon materials; however, achieving specific nanostructures often requires templates that are challenging to produce or expensive. This study proposes a cost-effective and scalable approach by ball-milling aluminum into thin flakes (<50 nm), which serve both as reductants and physical templates for the direct gas-phase synthesis of silicon nanosheets. The study demonstrates that performing the synthesis in the gas phase enables highly controlled surface reactions, crucial for forming well-defined silicon nanosheets. The reduction of industrial by-product silicon tetrachloride occurs via a solid–gas reaction at a relatively low temperature of 225 °C in a closed autoclave system. The resulting silicon nanosheets demonstrate uniform morphology (≈20 nm thick) and a high surface-to-thickness ratio favorable for lithium-ion battery anode applications. Electrochemical tests achieve a high initial capacity of 4038 mAh g−1 and a Coulombic efficiency of 83.3%. The nanosheets retain a reversible capacity of 2058 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles at 2.1 A g−1 and excellent rate capability, recovering 87% capacity at 21 A g−1.
Subjects
aluminum
lithium-ion batteries
nanosheets
nanostructures
reduction
silicon
template
Publisher
Wiley
Type
journal article