Enhancing the performance of silicon-based anode materials for alkali metal (Li, Na, K) ion battery: A review on advanced strategies

Silicon (Si) has emerged as a promising next-generation anode materials in alkali metal (Li, Na, K) ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, suitable working voltage, and abundance in the Earth's crust. However, Si's low conductivity and the breathing effect during charging and discharging processes cause anode material degradation, significant volume changes, and a loss of specific capacity. Extensive research has focused on developing various nanostructured Si-based materials to address these challenges. Nonetheless, bare nanostructured-Si still undergoes pulverization during the charging and discharging processes, leading to side reactions and high cell impedance, which result in poor cycle life of Si anodes for alkali metal-ion batteries (AIBs). To overcome these issues, researchers have pursued the development of silicon-based materials using diverse engineering approaches. This review highlights the most recent and impactful research in the development of high-performance Si-based anodes for AIBs. It begins by outlining the electrochemical reaction mechanisms and challenges associated with Si-based anodes in AIBs, and then presents various approaches, including architectural engineering of Si, surface engineering of Si-based materials, and the construction of Si-based composites to improve battery performance. Finally, the review discusses the anticipated challenges and opportunities in the development of silicon-based anode materials for AIBs.