What is it about?
Core−shell particles have attracted broad interests in recent years for their remarkable properties and a wide range of potential applications, but the precise design and control of their structure remains a significant challenge. In this work, we propose a strategy to synthesize carbon coated SiOx (SiOx@C) core−shell particles via a sol−gel method using the simultaneous hydrolysis−condensation of tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) and polymerization of 3-aminophenol and formaldehyde. The synthetic process was conducted in the presence of ammonia as a basic catalyst and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant in a mixed water/methanol solution followed by the carbonization process. To demonstrate the benefits of core−shell structure in energy storage, the performance of SiOx@C as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) is evaluated.
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Why is it important?
Results from this study provide new insight into the design of core−shell particles by using TMOS as an effective silica precursor for the first time with a well-controlled reaction rate and spherical morphology. The obtained SiOx@C particles delivered a reversible capacity of 509 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and the capacity retention was approximately 80% after 100 cycles. The significantly improved electrochemical performance in comparison with that reported in our previous paper can be explained by the structure of material. The SiOx@C particles with core−shell structure guarantee optimum contact with the carbon matrix, and the round shape of carbon shell is highly resilient toward stress. These will contribute to improving the conductivity of SiOx and exerting the function of carbon.
Perspectives
In this study, the core−shell particles can be obtained with structural integrity and spherical morphology, which makes TMOS an excellent silica precursor and renders this approach attractive for future applications. Furthermore, the developed synthesis route presented here has many prominent advantages: mild conditions, easy to control, low cost, and high production. The electrochemical performance of SiOx@C particles was significantly better than those achieved in our previously reported studies owing to the morphology and structure of the material. These results suggest that the use of TMOS and our developed synthesis strategy will open up new opportunities for the development of functional SiOx@C particles with core−shell structure for diverse applications.
Kiet Le Anh Cao
Hiroshima University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Controllable Synthesis of Carbon-Coated SiOx Particles through a Simultaneous Reaction between the Hydrolysis–Condensation of Tetramethyl Orthosilicate and the Polymerization of 3-Aminophenol, Langmuir, September 2019, American Chemical Society (ACS),
DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02599.
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