Flexible Dimensional Control of High‐Capacity Li‐Ion‐Battery Anodes: From 0D Hollow to 3D Porous Germanium Nanoparticle Assemblies

Simple physical blending of SiO2 and ethyl-capped Ge gels leads to flexible dimensional control of Ge nanoparticles, and an increasing weight fraction of the latter leads to ordered 3D porous nanoparticle assemblies (see figure). The long-range ordering of the 3D porous Ge nanoparticles and their very thin pore wall thicknesses (<20 nm) induce excellent cycling performance, showing only a 2% capacity decrease after 100 cycles.