Reduced graphene oxide silicon composite for lithium ion batteries

Yana Miroshnikov, chemistry, Bar Ilan , Ramat-Gan, Israel
Gal Grinbom, chemistry, Bar Ilan , Ramat-Gan, Israel
Gregory Gershinsky, chemistry, Bar Ilan , Ramat-Gan, Israel
Daniel Gilbert Nessim, chemistry, Bar Ilan , Ramat-Gan, Israel
David Zitoun, chemistry, Bar Ilan , Ramat-Gan, Israel


Reduced graphene oxide possesses a variety of exceptional properties such as high flexibility, large surface to volume ratio, high conductivity and unique structure, which make this material a promising agent for battery electrodes¹

Today, a great deal of attention is concentrated on silicon (Si) as future anode material for Li-ion batteries, mainly due to its highest known theoretical capacity. However, Si-based anodes face significant challenges such as large volume expansion upon lithium insertion, which can result in electrode fracture and loss of electrical contact². One of the recently explored routes toward overcoming these issues is the fabrication of Graphene/silicon nanocomposite materials, where silicon nanoparticles are well dispersed on flexible graphene framework, and by that diminish the large volume change of Si, and increase the electrical conductivity³.

We demonstrate here a facile method for preparation of Si-rGO composite, by simple surface modification of Si nanoparticles with a grafting agent, followed by solvent mixing process. Specific capacity measurements shows that Si-GO composite exhibits a good cycling performance accompanied with very high capacity (see Figure). After the annealing of Si-GO composite in reducing atmosphere, coulombic efficiency and rate capability are reaching new standards.

The figure below presents specific capacity measurements of Si-GO and Si-rGO composites compared to Si/GO mix, as Si nanoparticles were not treated.

1.     Zhu, Y. et al. Graphene and graphene oxide: synthesis, properties, and applications. Adv. Mater. 22, 3906–24 (2010).

2.     Wu, H. et al. Stable cycling of double-walled silicon nanotube battery anodes through solid-electrolyte interphase control. Nat. Nanotechnol. 7, 310–5 (2012).

3.     Xiang, H. et al. Graphene/nanosized silicon composites for lithium battery anodes with improved cycling stability. Carbon N. Y. 49, 1787–1796 (2011).