Recent trending insights for enhancing silicon anode in lithium-ion battery via polymer coating

Abstract

Silicon (Si) was initially considered a promising alternative anode material for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its abundance, non-toxic nature, relatively low operational potential, and superior specific capacity compared to the commercial graphite anode. Regrettably, silicon has not been widely adopted in practical applications due to its low electrical conductivity, recurrent volume changes, continuous side reactions with the electrolyte, and an unstable solid electrolyte interface. These challenges result in a loss of electrical contact with the current collector, leading to poor cycle life and hindering the widespread adoption of silicon as an anode for LIBs. Various effective strategies have been explored to address these issues, such as the construction of Si nanostructures with diverse architectures to accommodate volume expansion and the synthesis of Si composites. Anodes with polymer coating, particularly those of natural origin, have attracted attention in the scientific community. This article reviews the significant impact of silicon-coated polymer anodes in recent years, providing a summary of advancements in real capacity, preparation methods, cycling stability, and Coulombic efficiency. Lastly, we offer our perspective and recommend the most promising trends for practical silicon-coated polymer anode electrodes.