Nanostructured silicon anodes fabricated by using magnesiothermic reduction for lithium-ion batteries

Nanostructured silicon with porous structures has been prepared by magnesiothermically reducing diatomaceous earth. The reduced silicon was used as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the silicon anodes showed the formation of a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer at 0.7 V, insertion of lithium ions to the silicon anode at 0.17 V, and delithiation from the silicon anode at 0.38 and 0.52 V. The average capacity of the nanostructured silicon was 1687 mAh/g. The magnesiothermically-reduced silicon with porous structures should be an efficient anode material for lithium-ion batteries.