Fabrication of C/SiO1.5 nanospheres by emulsion polymerization of twin monomer for high-performance lithium-ion battery anode

Novel C/SiO15 nanospheres were fabricated by simple emulsion polymerization of twin monomer, i.e., methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane (MP/TES). MP/TES contains organic component MP and inorganic component TES, which can be converted into carbon and SiO1.5 via sequential emulsion polymerization and condensation, resulting in the formation of molecular-scale bi-continuous C/SiO1.5 structure. The SiO1.5 content is as high as 90%, and the size of SiO1.5 phase is ca. 1.3 nm. In addition, the diameter of C/ SiO1.5 nanospheres can be well tailored from 27 to 53 nm by changing the emulsifier concentrations. When used as electrode in lithium ion battery, carbon phase can improve the electrical conductivity and protect the electrode from crack; low spherical diameter can reduce the ion transfer distance and high SiO1.5 content will supply enough active sites for lithium ion storage, and thus, C/SiO1.5 nanospheres present remarkable lithium ion storage performance. The initial discharge and reversible capacities of C/ SiO1.5 nanospheres can reach 752 and 328 mAh g(-1). After 100 cycles, a remarkable capacity of 444 mAh g-1 remains, which is 1.2 times of the theoretical capacity of graphite. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.