Facile synthesis of SiO2/C anode using PVC as carbon source for lithium-ion batteries

SiO2/C composites using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as carbon sources are prepared successfully via a facile and low-cost approach. In this paper, the effect of four coating ratios on the SiO2/C materials is investigated. When tested as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the samples possessing a high carbon content display a better electrochemical stability. The high-content PVC pyrolytic carbon can provide a malleable and high electrical conductivity carbon layer for SiO2, which has more defects and benefits the diffusion of Li ions between the electrolyte and SiO2/C. However, considering the low capacity of the PVC pyrolytic carbon, a carbon content of 25% was chosen as the best coating ratio. This SiO2/C electrode shows a reversible capacity of 695 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 200 cycles, with a capacity retention of 86.4% after the first cycle. The electrode also displays a discharge capacity of 535 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. Taking into consideration the facileness and the low cost of the synthetic method, this SiO2/C composite anode material may have a great prospect of industrialization.