Electrochemical performances of Si-coated MCMB as anode material in lithium-ion cells

Crystalline silicon has been deposited onto the surface of mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) particles by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using silane as the precursor gas. The microstructure of the Si-coated MCMB was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. It was found that the Si coated on the surface of MCMB particles exists in the crystalline state, and Si-coated MCMB exhibits increased reversible capacity compared to pristine MCMB without sacrificing its cycling behavior. As a result, Si-coated MCMB emerges as a promising anode material for secondary lithium-ion batteries. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.