Recycled silicon powder coated on carbon paper used as the anode of lithium ion batteries

High-capacity electrode materials are critical for portable electronic equipment that requires a high-energy density from lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Many different materials and fabrication methods for such electrodes have been developed for this purpose. Carbon paper coated with recycled silicon powder ( CP-RSP) was prepared by coating silicon and pitch powder on the carbon paper, followed by stabilization at 250 degrees C in air and carbonization at 1 000 degrees C in N-2. The CP-RSP acted as both the current-collector and the active material for the anodes of LIBs. Electrodes with 2.5 , 5 , and 10 wt. % silicon exhibited capacity increases of 94 , 129 and 41% , respectively, compared with the silicon-free electrode. The electrode for the CP-RSP with 5 wt. % silicon exhibited an optimal balance between discharge capacity and stability in long-cycle tests under various charging rates.