Recent advances in interface engineering of silicon anodes for enhanced lithium-ion battery performance

Silicon, with its remarkable specific capacity of 4200 mAh g−1 and abundant natural resources, presents a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, it faces challenges such as large volume expansion, low electrical conductivity, and unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) during the lithiation/delithiation process. This paper offers a comprehensive review of strategies to regulate and modify the silicon anode interface through structural design and compositional optimization. Nanosizing silicon particles and employing 1D, 2D, and 3D structural design approaches are discussed as methods to control the interface layer. Optimization of the interface composition is achieved through monomers, inorganic compounds, or organic compounds, while the modification of the interface emcompasses techiniquers like doping, surface coating, surface functionalization, and artificial SEI (ASEI) film construction. These versatile modification strategies are not only controllable but also highly efficient. A systematic summary and in-depth understanding of these silicon anode interface regulation and modification strategies will pave the way for optimizing silicon anode material design and the broader adoption of high-specific-capacity LIBs.