Synthesis and application of silicon nanoparticles prepared from rice husk for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Silicon nanoparticles have been synthesized via a highly scalable heat scavenger-assisted magnesiothermic reduction of rice husk. This environmentally benign, highly abundant, and low-cost SiO2 source allows for the production of silicon nanoparticles with good electrochemical performance as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. The addition of KBr, as an effective heat scavenger agent for the highly exothermic magnesium reduction process. Silicon nanoparticles have an average particle size of 31.04 nm, a surface area of 14.61 m2g−1, and pore size of 1.69 nm. Silicon nanoparticles are capable of high electrochemical performance as an anode material for Lithium-ion batteries performance with lithiation at 0.16 V, delithiation at 0.54 V, the electrolyte resistance (Rs) at 5.07 Ω, the charge-transfer resistance (Rct) at 10.07 Ω, and a specific capacity of 3416 mAhg−1.