Chitosan: A N-doped carbon source of silicon-based anode material for lithium ion batteries

Silicon/graphite/carbon (Si/G/CTS-C) composite, based on nano-silicon, flake graphite, and chitosan-derived carbon (CTS-C), was prepared by spray drying and subsequent pyrolysis. The results of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy illustrate that chitosan is a good dispersion agent and chitosan-derived carbon is N-doped. The results indicate that the initial charge capacity of Si/G/CTS-C composite is 613.9 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 corresponding to an initial coulombic efficiency of 81.89%. Besides, the Si/G/CTS-C composite exhibits higher specific capacity, more superior rate capability, better cycling performance, and lower impedance than that of silicon/graphite/phenolic resin-derived carbon (Si/G/P-C) composite.