Synthesis and characterization of SiO2/Ti3C2 anode materials for lithium-ion batteries via different methods

Silicon dioxide (SiO2) has great potential application as anode materials for lithium-ion battery owing to the rich resource, economic cost, and easy preparation. SiO2/Ti3C2 (ST-1, ST-2, and ST-3, respectively) nano-/microcomposites were synthesized via three different methods (sol-gel, centrifugal-drying, and freeze-drying method), and the SEM results indicate that abundant SiO2 particles are distributed on the modified surface of multilayer Ti3C2 nanosheets, forming stable multiphase structures. Electrochemical results demonstrate that the SiO2/Ti3C2 composites can deliver good electrochemical performance and almost have no capacities decay after hundreds of cycles. In particular, the structure properties of ST-3 composite synthesized by freeze-drying were well preserved, delivering a reversible discharge capacity of 242.4 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1), even after high-rate test (5000 mA g(-1)), still exerting 258.6 mAh g(-1) reversible discharge capacity at 100 mA g(-1), indicating good structural stability and electrochemical reversibility of ST-3 composite for lithium-ion batteries.