Tuning Inactive Phases in Si-Ti-B Ternary Alloy Anodes to Achieve Stable Cycling for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Cycle stability improvement of a high-capacity Si anode is a challenge for its wide application in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. Active amorphous/nanosized Si embedded in an inactive matrix is a strategy to improve the cycle stability of Si anodes. Ternary Si100-x-yTixBy (5 ≤ y ≤ x ≤ 20) alloys are designed and prepared by ball milling using elemental Si, Ti, and B as starting materials. The formation sequence of inactive phases during mechanical alloying is predicted by an effective heat-of-formation model and verified by microstructural characterization. The local-fine distribution of free amorphous and nanocrystalline Si in the Si100-x-yTixBy is analyzed by confocal μ-Raman spectroscopy. When used as lithium-ion anodes, the capacity and voltage affected by Si and inactive compounds in the Si100-x-yTixBy are concerned to assess their high energy density. Furthermore, the impact of free active Si, the inactive phase, and amorphous Si on the cyclability of Si100-x-yTixBy is studied. The results show that the Si100-x-yTixBy material is a potential anode for high-energy-density Li-ion batteries and could be used to guide the design of multi-component Si-alloy anodes.