In‐Vitro Electrochemical Prelithiation: A Key Performance‐Boosting Strategy for Carbon Nanotube‐Containing Silicon‐Based Negative Electrodes in Li‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

AbstractPrelithiation technology has emerged as an enabling approach towards the practical deployment of Silicon negative electrode‐based Li‐Ion batteries, leading to significant advancement in initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), energy density and cycle life. In this study, an electrochemical prelithiation has been applied to Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)‐containing Silicon‐rich Silicon/Graphite‐based negative electrode, eliminating almost ~51.03 % of its first irreversible capacity losses. In contrast, a benchmarking negative electrode utilizing Carbon black (Super P) as conductive additive is found to demonstrate a reduction of ~39.55 % after prelithiation, which is considerably lower compared to MWCNTs‐based electrode system. Post‐mortem analysis using Energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) shows disparities between pristine‐cycled and prelithiated‐cycled negative electrodes. Overall, prelithiation enabled MWCNTs can be regarded as an essential additive component in Silicon‐based negative electrode systems for high‐energy density Li‐Ion batteries.