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 °C in air and carbonization at 1000 °C in N2. 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.