The recent advancements in lithium-silicon alloy for next generation batteries:A review paper

Electrochemical energy storage devices are essential in modern life, with batteries offering high energy density and compatibility. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), renowned for their cyclability and performance, are widely used in commercial applications. Electrode materials are the most crucial components for achieving high energy density in LIBs. Due to their high capacity, low cost, environmental friendliness, and low working voltage, lithium alloys have garnered significant attention as an anode material for LIBs. Among them, lithium-silicon (Li-Si) alloy stands out due to its exceptional properties, with lithium embedded in silicon, a highly promising material. This review explores the potential of Li-Si alloys as high-capacity anodes, including the use of artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layers and additives in batteries. It covers recent developments in Li-alloy anodes and compares various synthesis methods, characterizations, and electrochemical performance evaluations of Li-Si alloys. A unique aspect of this review is introducing a novel performance benchmarking framework, systematically comparing Li-Si alloys with other alloy anode materials under standardized conditions, which has not been explored in previous literature. Finally, it discusses the challenges and prospects for enhancing the performance of Li-Si materials in battery applications. Li-Si materials have great potential in battery applications due to their high-capacity properties, utilizing both lithium and silicon. This review provides an overview of the progress made in the synthesis and utilization of Li-Si as anodes, as well as artificial SEI and additives in LIBs, Li-air, Li-S, and solid-state batteries. It offers detailed insight into the electrochemical performance of Li-Si for different applications. Finally, the review addresses the challenges and envisions future prospects in the development of Li-Si for high-performance batteries. • Investigate the most recent advancements in lithium alloy anodes. • Elucidate the pros and cons of lithium-silicon based materials. • Compare various synthesis methods using electrochemical in-situ and ex-situ characterizations. • Discuss the challenges and opportunities of lithium-silicon materials in different battery applications.