Nano Si-coated graphite composite anode synthesized by semi-mass production ball milling for lithium secondary batteries

Nano-sized silicon particles were uniformly coated onto a natural graphite surface by a 1 ton/month-based semi-mass production ball milling method in order to prepare Si-based anodes for Li ion batteries. The structure, surface morphology and Si coating properties of the as-synthesized powders were analyzed by XRD, Raman, SEM, TEM and EDS mapping tools. The initial gravimetric discharge capacity of the Si-coated graphite measured using a half cell was 761 mAh/g at a rate of 0.2 C. Additionally, the discharge capacity retention of a full cell system was 71.4% at a 1 C rate even after 300 cycles as well as 96.6% of initial coulombic efficiency. The cycled composite powders were further analyzed by SEM and EDS mapping techniques. This method is proposed for commercial extension to the manufacture of lithium secondary batteries.