title: Centrifugal Spinning: An Alternative for Large Scale Production of Silicon-Carbon Composite Nanofibers for Lithium Ion Battery Anodes.
abstract: Composites made of silicon nanostructures in carbon matrixes are promising materials for anodes in Li ion batteries given the synergistic storage capacity of silicon combined with the chemical stability and electrical conductivity of carbonaceous materials. This work presents the development of Si/C composite fine fiber mats produced by carbonization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/Si composites. PVA has a high carbon content (ca. 54.5%) and, being water-soluble, it promotes the development of environmentally friendly materials. Si nanoparticles were dispersed in PVA solutions and transformed into fine fibers using a centrifugal spinning technique given its potential for large scale production. The Si/PVA fibers mats were then subjected to dehydration by exposing them to sulfuric acid vapor. The dehydration improved the thermal and chemical stability of the PVA matrix, allowing further carbonization at 800 °C. The resulting Si/C composite fibers produced binder-free anodes for lithium ion batteries that delivered specific discharge and charge capacities of 952 mA h g-1and 862 mA g-1, respectively, with a Columbic efficiency of 99% after 50 cycles.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Privada Xochicalco s/n, Temixco Morelos 62580, México.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539, United States.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cremar
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539, United States.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agubra
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539, United States.
authors.forename: Mataz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcoutlabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539, United States.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lozano
keywords: carbon; centrifugal spinning; lithium batteries; nanofibers; poly(vinyl alcohol); silicon