Improving electrode properties by sputtering Ge on SiO anode surface

Silicon monoxide (SiO) is an attractive anode material for lithium-ion batteries, but the low initial coulomb efficiency, poor conductivity, unstable cycling performance, etc. block the way to its wide applications. Various strategies have been applied to overcome these obstacles, but ended up being complicated, unsafe, or expensive. In this work, Ge was coated on a SiO anode by magnetron sputtering. The Ge coating enhances the conductivity of the SiO anode, alleviates the direct contact between electrolyte and SiO anode, thereby improving the initial coulomb efficiency and stabilizing the cycling performance. This work provides a simple yet useful idea to improve the performance of not only SiO anodes but also anodes made from other materials.