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Silicon is a promising material for high-energy anode materials for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. The gain in specific capacity depends highly on the quality of the Si dispersion and on the size and shape of the nano-silicon. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the size/shape of Si on the electrochemical performance of conventional Li-ion batteries. The scalable synthesis processes of both nanoparticles and nanowires in the 10–100 nm size range are discussed. In cycling lithium batteries, the initial specific capacity is significantly higher for nanoparticles than for nanowires. We demonstrate a linear correlation of the first Coulombic efficiency with the specific area of the Si materials. In long-term cycling tests, the electrochemical performance of the nanoparticles fades faster due to an increased internal resistance, whereas the smallest nanowires show an impressive cycling stability. Finally, the reversibility of the electrochemical processes is found to be highly dependent on the size/shape of the Si particles and its impact on lithiation depth, formation of crystalline Li15Si4 in cycling, and Li transport pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bringing solid-state lithium batteries to market is a challenge; in part because their fabrication requires a technically difficult step of solid-electrolyte separator assembly, and because thus far, solid-state cells have only cycled under high pressure. Here, we address both these bottlenecks by assembling lithium-ion batteries based on the argyrodite Li 6 PS 5 Cl as the electrolyte using standard coating processes. Moreover, we upscaled to 10 cm2 pouch cells in a dry room by a double casting technique, thanks to the use of fluorine-free polyisobutene as the binder and nanosilicon and LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 (NMC622) respectively as the anode and cathode active materials. Electrode casting is shown to significantly improve the cycling stability when compared to the conventional pelletizing process. The all-coated pouch cells, cycled at a pressure as low as 1 MPa over 160 cycles, show a better capacity retention than the pelletized cells cycling under >100 MPa. The higher performance of the sheet-type cell is thought to originate in the better densification and homogeneity of the cell, attested by its low resistance. [Display omitted] • Si-NMC pouch cells with Li 6 PS 5 Cl solid electrolyte. • Both electrodes and separator casted via conventional ink coating process. • Cell scaled up from 0.4 cm2 (pelletized cell) to 10 cm2 (all-coated pouch cell). • The coating process improved long-term stability. • Pouch cells cycled under 1 MPa perform better than pelletized cells at 127 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]