Surface-wave-sustained plasma synthesis of graphene@Fe–Si nanoparticles for lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract

Silicon encapsulated in conductive layers has proven to be an excellent method for retaining the high capacity of silicon in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) throughout cycling. This study presents an ultra-fast, single-step, and scalable method for synthesizing graphene@Fe–Si nanoparticles via an atmospheric pressure surface-wave-sustained plasma. The verification of the synthesized nanoparticles, encompassing graphene cladding and silicon nanoparticles encapsulated in iron, was conducted through energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy mapping, line scanning in the transmission electron microscopy mode, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy corroborated the identity of the cladding as graphene. This study provides a viable strategy for the industrial production of anode materials for high-performance LIBs.