Synergistically Controlled Nest-Shaped Microporous Silicon Anode with a Thin-Film Coating and a Hard Carbon Nanotemplate Obtained from ZIF-67 for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Experiments
2.1. Materials
2.2. Synthesis of NMPSi
2.3. Synthesis of NMPSi@THC Composites
2.4. Characterizations
2.5. Electrochemical Measurements
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Structure and Composition of NMPSi@THC
3.2. Electrochemical Performance
4. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Dou, F.; Shi, L.; Chen, G.; Zhang, D. Silicon/Carbon Composite Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries. Electrochem. Energy Rev. 2019, 2, 149–198. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, P.; Wang, X.; Yang, Z.; Wei, Y.; Shen, N.; Chen, S.; Xu, B. Burgeoning Silicon/MXene Nanocomposites for Lithium Ion Batteries: A Review. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2024, 34, 2402307. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- He, W.; Xu, W.; Li, Z.; Hu, J.; Yang, G.; Qin, G.; Teng, W.; Zhang, T.; Zhang, W.; Sun, Z.; et al. Structural Design and Challenges of Micron-Scale Silicon-Based Lithium-ion Batteries. Adv. Sci. 2025, 12, 2407540. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, H.; Sun, Q.; Zhang, H.; Cheng, J.; Li, Y.; Zeng, Z.; Zhang, S.; Xu, X.; Ji, F.; Li, D.; et al. The application road of silicon-based anode in lithium-ion batteries: From liquid electrolyte to solid-state electrolyte. Energy Storage Mater. 2023, 55, 244–263. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Huang, X.; Hallac, J.Y.; Mao, S.; Chang, J.; Fell, C.R.; Metz, B.; Jiang, J.; Hurley, P.T.; Chen, J. Controllable Synthesis of Hollow Si Anode for Long-Cycle-Life Lithium-Ion Batteries. Adv. Mater. 2014, 26, 4326–4332. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Zheng, X.; Sun, J.; Xia, H.; Luo, W.; Huang, J.; Zhang, X.; An, H.; Liu, Z. Formicarium-Like Micron Porous Si Synergistically Adjusted by Surface Hard–Soft Nanoencapsulation as Long-Life Lithium-Ion Battery Anode. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16, 64774–64783. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Di, F.; Wang, Z.; Ge, C.; Li, L.; Geng, X.; Sun, C.; Yang, H.; Zhou, W.; Ju, D.; An, B.; et al. Hierarchical pomegranate-structure design enables stress management for volume release of Si anode. J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2023, 157, 1–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhao, H.; Li, J.; Zhao, Q.; Huang, X.; Jia, S.; Ma, J.; Ren, Y. Si-Based Anodes: Advances and Challenges of Li-Ion Batteries for Enhanced Stability. Electrochem. Energy Rev. 2024, 7, 11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ouyang, Y.; Song, Y.; Wang, J.; Li, W.; Pan, A.; Han, C. Synthesis of nano-silicon anodes from silicate-based minerals and their applications for high-performance lithium-ion battery. Chem. Eng. J. 2025, 507, 160699. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Su, H.; Li, X.; Liu, C.; Shang, Y.; Liu, H. Scalable synthesis of micrometer-sized porous silicon/carbon composites for high-stability lithium-ion battery anodes. Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 451, 138394. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xuan, H.; Zhang, C.; An, H.; Yin, P.; Luo, W. In-situ gradient assembled thin-layered nano-template with enhanced N-Co bonds regulated honeycomb-like micron Si anode for highly stable lithium-ion batteries. J. Energy Storage 2026, 155, 121675. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhu, R.; Wang, Z.; Hu, X.; Liu, X.; Wang, H. Silicon in Hollow Carbon Nanospheres Assembled Microspheres Cross-linked with N-doped Carbon Fibers toward a Binder Free, High Performance, and Flexible Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2010487. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ding, X.; Liu, X.; Huang, Y.; Zhang, X.; Zhao, Q.; Xiang, X.; Li, G.; He, P.; Wen, Z.; Li, J.; et al. Enhanced electrochemical performance promoted by monolayer graphene and void space in silicon composite anode materials. Nano Energy 2016, 27, 647–657. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yu, P.; Li, Z.; Han, M.; Yu, J. Growth of Vertical Graphene Sheets on Silicon Nanoparticles Well-Dispersed on Graphite Particles for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anode. Small 2024, 20, 202307494. [Google Scholar]
- Wang, M.-S.; Wang, G.-L.; Wang, S.; Zhang, J.; Wang, J.; Zhong, W.; Tang, F.; Yang, Z.-L.; Zheng, J.-M.; Li, X. In situ catalytic growth 3D multi-layers graphene sheets coated nano-silicon anode for high performance lithium-ion batteries. Chem. Eng. J. 2019, 356, 895–903. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Luo, W.; Fang, C.; Zhang, X.; Liu, J.; Ma, H.; Zhang, G.; Liu, Z.; Li, X. In Situ Generated Carbon Nanosheet-Covered Micron-Sized Porous Si Composite for Long-Cycling Life Lithium-Ion Batteries. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2021, 4, 535–544. [Google Scholar]
- Man, Q.; An, Y.; Liu, C.; Shen, H.; Xiong, S.; Feng, J. Interfacial design of silicon/carbon anodes for rechargeable batteries: A review. J. Energy Chem. 2023, 76, 576–600. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Li, H.; Chen, Z.; Kang, Z.; Liu, W.; Chen, Y. High-density crack-resistant Si-C microparticles for lithium ion batteries. Energy Storage Mater. 2023, 56, 40–49. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, F.-Z.; Ma, Y.-Y.; Jiang, M.-M.; Luo, W.; Yang, J.-P. Boron heteroatom-doped silicon–carbon peanut-like composites enables long life lithium-ion batteries. Rare Met. 2022, 41, 1276–1283. [Google Scholar]
- Chen, Y.; Li, P.; Huang, M.; Wu, C.; Huang, Q.; Xie, T.; Lin, X.; Zeb, A.; Wu, Y.; Xu, Z.; et al. Elucidating the role of embedding dispersed cobalt sites in nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks in Si-based anodes for stable and superior storage. J. Energy Chem. 2024, 98, 180–195. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, D.; Yang, R.; Zhou, J.; Liu, W.; Qin, H.; Zhang, Z.; Lei, X.; Lu, A.; Mo, Z.; Miao, L.; et al. Uniform Li-ion diffusion and robust solid electrolyte interface construction for kilogram-scale Si@ZIF powder as the anode in Li-ion batteries. Energy Storage Mater. 2023, 63, 102976. [Google Scholar]
- Wan, X.; Mu, T.; Shen, B.; Meng, Q.; Lu, G.; Lou, S.; Zuo, P.; Ma, Y.; Du, C.; Yin, G. Stable silicon anodes realized by multifunctional dynamic cross-linking structure with self-healing chemistry and enhanced ionic conductivity for lithium-ion batteries. Nano Energy 2022, 99, 107334. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zou, X.; Li, M.; Li, H.; Cao, G.; Jiang, Q.; Duan, R.; Qian, H.; Li, J.; Yang, X.; Cao, Y.; et al. Three-dimensional CNTs boosting the conductive confinement structure of silicon/carbon anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Chem. Eng. J. 2024, 498, 155573. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wei, Y.; Xiao, Z.; Huang, Y.; Zhu, Y.; Zhu, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Jia, D.; Zhang, S.; Wei, F. Insights into the SiO2 Stress Effect on the Electrochemical Performance of Si anode. Small 2024, 20, 2310240. [Google Scholar]
- Lee, Y.-R.; Hong, S.C.; Kim, K.; Park, J.; Kim, J.; Kang, B.; Kim, Y.; Lee, C.; Son, S.; Cho, B.; et al. Multiscale Carbon-Integrated Silicon Anode for Stable Cycling Under Practical Lithium-Ion Battery Conditions. Adv. Energy Mater. 2025, 15, e04250. [Google Scholar]
- Yu, Y.; Yang, C.; Jiang, Y.; Shang, Z.; Zhu, J.; Zhang, J.; Jiang, M. Robust Nitrogen/Sulfur Co-Doped Carbon Frameworks as Multifunctional Coating Layer on Si Anodes Toward Superior Lithium Storage. Adv. Energy Mater. 2025, 15, 2403086. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yi, S.; Yan, Z.; Li, X.; Wang, Z.; Ning, P.; Zhang, J.; Huang, J.; Yang, D.; Du, N. Design of phosphorus-doped porous hard carbon/Si anode with enhanced Li-ion kinetics for high-energy and high-power Li-ion batteries. Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 473, 145161. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sun, L.; Wang, L.; Liu, Y.; Wang, H.; Jin, Z. Synergistic engineering of micron-sized porous silicon anodes via Ge doping and liquid metal alloy modification for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2025, 13, 14346–14352. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cao, Z.; Sun, H.; Zhang, Y.; Yuan, L.; Liao, Y.; Jia, H.; Hao, S.; Li, Z.; Qie, L.; Huang, Y. Metallized polymer current collector as “stress acceptor” for stable micron-sized silicon anodes. J. Energy Chem. 2025, 101, 786–794. [Google Scholar]
- Liu, T.; Chu, Q.; Yan, C.; Zhang, S.; Lin, Z.; Lu, J. Interweaving 3D Network Binder for High-Areal-Capacity Si Anode through Combined Hard and Soft Polymers. Adv. Energy Mater. 2019, 9, 1802645. [Google Scholar]
- Dong, H.; Fu, X.; Wang, J.; Wang, P.; Ding, H.; Song, R.; Wang, S.; Li, R.; Li, S. In-situ construction of porous Si@C composites with LiCl template to provide silicon anode expansion buffer. Carbon 2021, 173, 687–689. [Google Scholar]
- Liu, B.; Li, H.; Luo, W.; Zhang, X.; Liu, Z.; Yin, P.; Zhang, R. Flexible-rigid covalent nano-template of micron porous silicon towards ultra-robust Li-ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2024, 12, 10412–10421. [Google Scholar]
- Cheng, Z.; Lin, H.; Liu, Y.; Li, J.; Jiang, H.; Zhang, H. Enabling the Transport Dynamics and Interfacial Stability of Porous Si Anode via Rigid and Flexible Carbon Encapsulation for High-Energy Lithium Storage. Small 2024, 20, 2407560. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xu, Z.-L.; Cao, K.; Abouali, S.; Garakani, M.A.; Huang, J.; Huang, J.-Q.; Heidari, E.K.; Wang, H.; Kim, J.-K. Study of lithiation mechanisms of high performance carbon-coated Si anodes by in-situ microscopy. Energy Storage Mater. 2016, 3, 45–54. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yan, H.; Hu, D.; Dai, Y.; Zhang, X.; Yuan, H.; Li, W.; Huang, X.; Tan, Y. Self-assembly of carbon nanomaterials onto carbon fiber to improve the interfacial properties of epoxy composites. J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2023, 161, 44–49. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Li, Z.; Han, M.; Yu, P.; Lin, J.; Yu, J. Macroporous Directed and Interconnected Carbon Architectures Endow Amorphous Silicon Nanodots as Low-Strain and Fast-Charging Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries. Nano-Micro Lett. 2024, 16, 98. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Li, X.; Zheng, B.; Liu, L.; Zhang, G.; Liu, Z.; Luo, W. Long-Term Stable Hollowed Silicon for Li-Ion Batteries Based on an Improved Low-Temperature Molten Salt Strategy. ACS Omega 2020, 5, 27368–27373. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Xiao, M.; Xintong, X.; Haibang, X.; Tao, H.; Aishui, Y. Ultrastable Monodisperse Resin-Based Spherical Si-C Materials with Micropore Confined Growth of Silicon Nanoclusters for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2025, 35, 2504545. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Luo, W.; Wang, Y.; Chou, S.; Xu, Y.; Li, W.; Kong, B.; Dou, S.X.; Liu, H.K.; Yang, J. Critical thickness of phenolic resin-based carbon interfacial layer for improving long cycling stability of silicon nanoparticle anodes. Nano Energy 2016, 27, 255–264. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xuan, H.; Luo, W.; Zhang, C.; An, H.; Huang, J.; Wang, W.; Yin, P. Quickly Generated N, Co Codoped Porous Graphene from Waste Biomass at Low Temperature for an Effective Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Langmuir 2025, 41, 15601–15611. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kumar, S.K.; Ghosh, S.K.; Malladi, S.K.; Nanda, J.; Martha, S.K. Nanostructured Silicon–Carbon 3D Electrode Architectures for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries. ACS Omega 2018, 3, 9598–9606. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hong, Z.; Fang, Z.; Luo, Y.; Wu, H.; Tian, H.; Zhao, F.; Li, Q.; Fan, S.; Wang, J. Promising nano-silicon anodes prepared using the “disperse-anchor” strategy and functional carbon nanotube interlayers for flexible lithium-ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2022, 10, 23509–23520. [Google Scholar]
- Wu, F.; Dong, Y.; Su, Y.; Wei, C.; Chen, T.; Yan, W.; Ma, S.; Ma, L.; Wang, B.; Chen, L.; et al. Benchmarking the Effect of Particle Size on Silicon Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries. Small 2023, 19, 2301301. [Google Scholar]
- Tian, Y.; Pei, Z.H.; Luan, D.Y.; Lou, X.W. Anchoring Sn Nanoparticles in Necklace-Like B,N,F-Doped Carbon Fibers Enables Anode-Less 5V-Class Li-Metal Batteries. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202423454. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tian, Y.; Pei, Z.; Luan, D.; Lou, X.W. In situ anchoring 2D hexagonal Zn-MOF on MXene toward robust anode-less 5 V-class Li metal batteries. Sci. Adv. 2026, 12, eabe1378. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- An, Y.; Tian, Y.; Liu, C.; Xiong, S.; Feng, J.; Qian, Y. One-Step, Vacuum-Assisted Construction of Micrometer-Sized Nanoporous Silicon Confined by Uniform Two-Dimensional N-Doped Carbon toward Advanced Li Ion and MXene-Based Li Metal Batteries. ACS Nano 2022, 16, 4560–4577. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Mu, T.; Zuo, P.; Lou, S.; Pan, Q.; Li, Q.; Du, C.; Gao, Y.; Cheng, X.; Ma, Y.; Yin, G. A two-dimensional nitrogen-rich carbon/silicon composite as high performance anode material for lithium ion batteries. Chem. Eng. J. 2018, 341, 37–46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kong, X.; Xi, Z.; Jiang, Y.; Shi, L.; Chen, X.; Zhang, J.; Wang, L.; Wan, Z.; Pan, A. Fe-N-C decorated fibrous network-wrapped biomass SiOₓ/C with gradient conductive structure for high performance Li-ion battery anodes. Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 477, 147178. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xin, Y.; Li, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, F.; He, B.; Tian, H. Eco-Efficient, Nonacidic Etched and Cost-Effective Micron-Sized Porous Si–C Anodes for High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries. Energy Fuels 2025, 39, 7564–7575. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ma, X.; You, Y. Molten NaCl-Assisted Synthesis of Hierarchical Porous Silicon/Carbon Composite Anode with a Fast Kinetic for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Capacitor. J. Power Sources 2025, 652, 237598. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mu, T.; Zhang, Z.; Li, Q.; Lou, S.; Zuo, P.; Du, C.; Yin, G. Scalable Submicron/Micron Silicon Particles Stabilized in a Robust Graphite-Carbon Architecture for Enhanced Lithium Storage. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2019, 555, 783–790. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Ahn, W.J.; Park, B.H.; Seo, S.W.; Kim, S.; Im, J.S. Designing of 3D Porous Silicon/Carbon Complex Anode Based on Metal-Organic Frameworks for Lithium-Ion Battery. Carbon Lett. 2023, 33, 2349–2361. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, X.; Chao, D.; Zhang, Q.; Liu, H.; Hu, H.; Zhao, J.; Li, Y.; Huang, Y.; Lin, J.; Shen, Z.X. The Roles of Lithium-Philic Giant Nitrogen-Doped Graphene in Protecting Micron-Sized Silicon Anode from Fading. Sci. Rep. 2015, 5, 15665. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Zhao, J.; Yang, K.; Wang, J.; Wei, D.; Liu, Z.; Zhang, S.; Ye, W.; Zhang, C.; Wang, Z.; Yang, X. Expired Milk Powder Emulsion-Derived Carbonaceous Framework/Si Composite as Efficient Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2023, 638, 99–108. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Liao, S.; Shi, X.; Xu, Y.; Liu, M.; Ding, N.; Li, X.; Li, Z. Preparation of Porous Silicon Composite Anode Material Coated with Open Pore Polymethyl Acrylate and Its Electrochemical Performance as a Carbon Source. New J. Chem. 2023, 47, 19103–19113. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lai, P.; Liu, C.; Sun, Z.; Zhang, Z. A Highly Effective and Controllable Chemical Prelithiation of Silicon/Carbon/Graphite Composite Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries. Solid State Ion. 2023, 403, 116415. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, L.; Wang, Y.; Jiang, T.; Li, R.; Tian, X.; Chen, Y.; Zhou, Y. Interfacial Cobalt-Carbon Bonding Reinforced Si with Metal-Organic Framework Glass and Carbon Coatings as Hierarchical Negative Electrodes for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries. J. Alloys Compd. 2026, 1063, 187757. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ruan, H.; Zhang, L.; Li, S.; Li, L.; Huang, Y.; Gao, S.; Tian, Y.; Guo, S. Spatially Confined Silicon Nanoparticles Anchored in Porous Carbon as Lithium-Ion-Battery Anode Materials. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 2022, 5, 13542–13552. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]






Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Share and Cite
Sun, J.; Xuan, H.; Zhang, C.; An, H.; Luo, W. Synergistically Controlled Nest-Shaped Microporous Silicon Anode with a Thin-Film Coating and a Hard Carbon Nanotemplate Obtained from ZIF-67 for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries. Energies 2026, 19, 3039. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19133039
Sun J, Xuan H, Zhang C, An H, Luo W. Synergistically Controlled Nest-Shaped Microporous Silicon Anode with a Thin-Film Coating and a Hard Carbon Nanotemplate Obtained from ZIF-67 for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries. Energies. 2026; 19(13):3039. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19133039
Chicago/Turabian StyleSun, Jingfei, Hanlin Xuan, Chuanghui Zhang, Haoran An, and Wen Luo. 2026. "Synergistically Controlled Nest-Shaped Microporous Silicon Anode with a Thin-Film Coating and a Hard Carbon Nanotemplate Obtained from ZIF-67 for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries" Energies 19, no. 13: 3039. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19133039
APA StyleSun, J., Xuan, H., Zhang, C., An, H., & Luo, W. (2026). Synergistically Controlled Nest-Shaped Microporous Silicon Anode with a Thin-Film Coating and a Hard Carbon Nanotemplate Obtained from ZIF-67 for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries. Energies, 19(13), 3039. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19133039
