Putting Silicon 'Sawdust' in a Graphene Cage Boosts Battery Performance
Thursday, January 28, 2016 - 14:33
in Physics & Chemistry
Scientists have been trying for years to make a practical lithium-ion battery anode out of silicon, which could store 10 times more energy per charge than today's commercial anodes and make high-performance batteries a lot smaller and lighter. But two major problems have stood in the way: Silicon particles swell, crack and shatter during battery charging, and they react with the battery electrolyte to form a coating that saps their performance.