Nano-Composite Anode for High Capacity Batteries and Methods of Forming Same

摘要

A battery anode comprised of a coated metallic nanowire array is disclosed. In one embodiment, an array of copper nanowires is attached to a copper substrate and coated with amorphous silicon. The center to center spacing of the nanowires and their diameter and the coating thickness are set so that the silicon coating of neighboring nanowires does not touch or severely inhibit electrolyte flow after the silicon layer has expanded due to charge insertion. In another embodiment, the silicon coating fully covers the nanowires and the nanowires provide structural support that ameliorates stress in the silicon film due to charge cycling.