Conformal Coatings of Cyclized-PAN for Mechanically Resilient Si nano-Composite Anodes

Cyclized‐polyacrylonitrile (cyclized‐PAN) is used as a conformal coating on nano‐Si for highly reversible anodes. Cyclization of PAN proceeds by limiting the pyrolysis to 300 °C such that the cyclized‐PAN maintains its polymeric properties while also providing sp2 π bonding for good electronic conductivity. Cyclized‐PAN is thus a conjugated polymer with good mechanical resiliency to accommodate Si's volumetric expansion and also good mixed conductivity.