Preparation of Ni-coated Si anode materials using electroless plating for high performance secondary lithium-ion batteries

In this paper, we introduce an electroless plating technique to synthesize uniform metal nanoparticles on silicon (Si) powders that provide electrical pathways on Si anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Scanning electron microscopy images reveal that hemispherical Ni nanoparticles are conformally deposited on Si powders. The electrochemical performances show that the rate capability and cyclability of Ni-coated Si are much better than bare Si electrodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and powder resistance measurements confirm that electroless plating enhances electrical conductivity by coating Ni nanoparticles on a Si anode, which leads to excellent electrochemical performances. Our approach provides a simple and effective route to prepare high-performance anode materials with large mass for future LIB applications.