Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Silicon/Carbon (Si/C) Composites for High-Performance Rechargeable Metal-Ion Batteries

Silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon nanoparticle-decorated carbon (Si/C) materials are electrodes that can potentially be used in various rechargeable batteries, owing to their inimitable merits, including non-flammability, stability, eco-friendly nature, low cost, outstanding theoretical capacity, and earth abundance. However, SiC has inferior electrical conductivity, volume expansion, a low Li+ diffusion rate during charge–discharge, and inevitable repeated formation of a solid–electrolyte interface layer, which hinders its commercial utilization. To address these issues, extensive research has focused on optimizing preparation methods, engineering morphology, doping, and creating composites with other additives (such as carbon materials, metal oxides, nitrides, chalcogenides, polymers, and alloys). Owing to the upsurge in this research arena, providing timely updates on the use of SiC and Si/C for batteries is of great importance. This review summarizes the controlled design of SiC-based and Si/C composites using various methods for rechargeable metal-ion batteries like lithium-ion (LIBs), sodium-ion (SIBs), zinc-air (ZnBs), and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). The experimental and predicted theoretical performance of SiC composites that incorporate various carbon materials, nanocrystals, and non-metal dopants are summarized. In addition, a brief synopsis of the current challenges and prospects is provided to highlight potential research directions for SiC composites in batteries.