Phosphorus-doped silicon nanoparticles as high performance LIB negative electrode

Silicon is getting much attention as the promising next-generation negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries with the advantages of abundance, high theoretical specific capacity and environmentally friendliness. In this work, a series of phosphorus (P)-doped silicon negative electrode materials (P-Si-34, P-Si-60 and P-Si-120) were obtained by a simple heat treatment method, which can maintain the original nanoparticle morphology. The P-Si-60 material shows excellent discharge specific capacity, rate performance and cycling performance. The discharge specific capacity after 50 cycles remains > 2000 mAh g−1 with a capacity retention rate of 74.3%. The excellent electrochemical properties of P-Si-60 material can be attributed to the phosphorus doping without destroying the original particle morphology and nanostructure and the higher intrinsic electric conductivity. It will bring new thoughts for the further application of silicon negative electrode materials.