Batteries: Nanoscale Heterogeneity of Multilayered Si Anodes with Embedded Nanoparticle Scaffolds for Li‐Ion Batteries (Adv. Sci. 10/2017)

A versatile synthesis approach is proposed for Li-ion battery anodes composed by intercalated layers of amorphous-Si thin films and Ta nanoparticles by Mukhles Sowwan and co-workers in article number 1700180. The porosity, nanomechanical, and electrochemical properties of the Si layers are dictated by the Ta nanoparticle scaffolds, leading to anodes with enhanced charge-discharge rate and self-limited capacity. The proposed prototype meets the advantages of nano- and thin film technologies.