Core-Shell Si@SiOC Particles Synthesized Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Fluid for Superior Li-Ion Storage Performance

A supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO₂) fluid, characterized by gas-like diffusivity, near-zero surface tension, and excellent mass transfer properties, is used as a precursor to produce silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) coating. SCCO₂ disperses and reacts with Si particles to form an interfacial layer consisting of Si, O, and C. After an 850 °C annealing process, a conformal SiOC coating layer forms, resulting in core-shell Si@SiOC particles. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and its X-ray line-scan spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, are used to examine the SiOC formation mechanism. Effects of SCCO₂ interaction time on the SiOC properties are investigated. The SiOC layer connects the Si@SiOC particles, improving electron and Li⁺ transport. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are employed to examine the role of SiOC during charging/discharging. Operando X-ray diffraction data reveal that the SiOC coating reduces crystal size of the formed Li₁₅Si₄ and increases its formation/elimination reversibility during cycling. The Si@SiOC electrode shows a capacitiy of 2250 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹. After 500 cycles, the capacity retention is 72% with Coulombic efficiency above 99.8%. A full cell consisting of Si@SiOC anode and LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ cathode is constructed, and its performance is evaluated.