Facile One-Step Fabrication of 3-Dimensional SiO2-C Electrodes for Lithium-ion Batteries Using a Highly Porous SBA-15 Template and Pore-Forming Agent

SiO 2 -based anodes have attracted extensive attention due to their high theoretical capacity of 1,956 mAh g -1 , stable cycle life, and abundance on Earth. However, their commercialization is still hindered by several intrinsic problems, such as poor electrical conductivity and electrochemical inactiveness. In this study, a 3-dimensional SiO 2 /C electrode is fabricated by introducing a pore-forming agent (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) and partially carbonizing a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder. During heat treatment at 600 °C, PTFE powders are unzipped to develop microsized pores. Meanwhile, the PVDF binder is partially carbonized to form highly conductive F-doped graphitic carbon. In particular, a highly porous platelet SBA-15 template is used as an SiO 2 active material for large contact areas between SiO 2 and carbonized PVDF. As a result, the structured SiO 2 /C anode exhibits better cycle performance and internal resistance than typical SiO 2 electrodes: the structured SiO 2 /C anode delivers 294 mAh g -1 , while the typical SiO 2 anode is electrochemically inactive with Li + ions. Graphical Abstract