Controlled fabrication of Si nanoparticles on graphene sheets for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

A new route is presented for the synthesis of Si nanoparticle/Graphene (Si–Gr) composite by a sonochemical method and then magnesiothermic reduction process. During the process, silica particles were firstly synthesized and deposited on the surface of graphene oxide (SiO₂–GO) by ultrasonic waves, subsequent low-temperature magnesiothermic reduction transformed SiO₂ to Si nanoparticles in situ on graphene sheets. The phase of the obtained materials was influenced by the weight ratio of Mg to SiO₂–GO. With the optimized ratio of 1 : 1, we can get Si nanoparticles on Gr sheets, with the average particle size of Si around 30 nm. Accordingly, the resultant Si–Gr with 78 wt% Si inside delivered a reversible capacity of 1100 mA h g⁻¹, with very little fading when the charge rates change from 100 mA g⁻¹ to 2000 mA g⁻¹ and then back to 100 mA g⁻¹. Thus, this strategy offers an efficient method for the controlled synthesis of Si nanoparticles on Gr sheets with a high rate performance, attributing to combination of the nanosized Si particles and the graphene.