The industrial use of the high-capacity Silicon (Si) based Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is hindered by the cyclical instability of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). We aim to devise an elastomeric SEI on Si-particles via ex-situ electro-polymerization capable of withstanding the large (~350%) expansion of Si during cycling, thereby reducing the cyclical consumption of the electrolyte and improving battery longevity. Our approach involves the fundamental study of the ex-situ electro-polymerization of some selected monomers on Si thin-film model surfaces. This fundamental understanding of the deposition process will be implemented to form polymer SEI-coating on Si particle in a particle bed reactor. We will present the successful electrodeposition of polystyrene on silicon model surface and its characterization using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. AFM-NanoIR was used to investigate the morphology and local IR spectrum of the deposits. This research pipeline will be used in the investigation of the electro-polymerization coating of Si with high failure strain polymers such as Polyisoprene and Polythiophene.

Devising an elastomeric solid electrolyte interphase on silicon via ex-situ electro-polymerization for long cyclic life of silicon based lithium-ion battery

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.