Photovoltaic Recycled Nano-Silicon–Silica-Based Anode to Enhance Lithium-Ion Battery Performance

ABSTRACTAn economical, sustainable, and industry‐acceptable process of utilizing low‐value resources to produce highly competitive silicon‐based anodes is attractive. In this study, a special anode architecture of PV nano‐Si–SiOx/graphite is developed by utilizing low‐value photovoltaic (PV) recycled silicon, which is partially converted to new hybrid PV Si–SiOx and nano‐size simultaneously and wrapped by graphite fragments. An industry‐grade ball milling techniques are exploited to assemble this special anode architecture under controlled environment conditions. The attained new PV nano‐Si–SiOx/graphite electrode‐incorporated dual binders of carboxymethyl cellulose and poly (acrylic acid) demonstrates high charge capacity and stability (600 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C after 500 cycles; 600 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 100 cycles) as well as commendable Coulombic efficiencies (87% initial and ≥ 99.5% subsequent cycles), providing new opportunities for practical application. The structural analysis reveals that the partial conversion of Si to Si–SiOx is critical to in situ generate the inert matrix of Li2O–lithium silicate, which works as a buffer in diminishing the volume variation in the electrode during initial lithiation. Our silicon anode design and subsequent assembly by environmentally friendly processes can potentially be used to produce high‐value practical silicon anodes for lithium‐ion battery technology.