Amorphous silicon nanowires "a-SiNWs" have been prepared by electrospinning a liquid silane-based precursor. Cyclohexasilane "Si6H12" was admixed with poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) in toluene giving an ink that was electrospun into the Si6H12/PPMA wires with diameters of 50-2000 nm. Raman spectroscopy revealed that thermal treatment at 350°C transforms this deposit into a-SiNWs. These materials were coated with a thin carbon layer and then tested as half-cells where a reasonable plateau in electrochemical cycling was observed after an initial capacity fade. Additionally, porous a-SiNWs were realized when the thermally decomposable binder polypropylene carbonate/polycyclohexene carbonate was used as the polymer carrier.
Revised: May 2, 2012 |
Published: August 4, 2010
Citation
Schulz D.L., J. Hoey, J. Smith, A. Elangovan, X. Wu, I. Akhatov, and S. Payne, et al. 2010.Si6H12/Polymer Inks for Electrospinning a-Si Nanowire Lithium Ion Battery Anodes.Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters 13, no. 10:A143-A145.PNNL-SA-74774.doi:10.1149/1.3466994