Controlled synthesis of copper reinforced nanoporous silicon microsphere with boosted electrochemical performance

As the most promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, silicon attracts great attention. In this work, copper reinforced nanoporous silicon microsphere is synthesized by chemical dealloying method. By adjusting the content and morphology, we systematically study the relationship between morphology, components with the electrochemical performance. Results show that copper incorporation can significantly improve the electronic conductivity, buffer the volume expansion and enhance the Coulombic efficiency. The optimized Si10Cu4 can deliver a capacity of 914.1 mAh g−1 even after 500 cycles at rate of 1 C. These results may provide a new pathway to improve the electrochemical performance of silicon-based anode materials.