Constructing 3D Interconnected Si/SiOx/C Nanorings from Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is a family of organic/inorganic hybrid materials with specific molecular symmetry, and shows great potential in the structural design of nanomaterials. Here, a bottom-up strategy is designed to fabricate 3D interconnected Si/SiOx/C nanorings (NRs) via AlCl3-assisted aluminothermic reduction using dodecaphenyl cage silsesquioxane (T-12-Ph) as the building block. In this process, AlCl3 acts as both a liquid medium for reduction, and significantly as the catalyst to the cross-linking of phenyl groups in T-12-Ph. The obtained Si/SiOx/C NRs exhibits uniform diameter of approximate to 165 nm and well distribution of C and Si elements. The unique ring-like structure of Si/SiOx/C NRs makes it have great application potential in the field of lithium ion batteries. Notably, Si/SiOx/C NRs exhibits superior high-rate capacity and good cycle stability when used as anode for LIBs. More excitingly, Si/SiOx/C NRs can deliver a high reversible capacity of 517.9 mA h g(-1) at ultra-low temperature of -70 degrees C, and the capacity retention as high as approximate to 50% of that at 25 degrees C. This work not only broadens structural design of carbon-based nanomaterials but also provides more possibilities for the application of POSS.

Automated summary

A unique 3D interconnected Si/SiOx/C nanorings were successfully fabricated via AlCl3-assisted aluminothermic reduction, showing great potential in the field of lithium ion batteries. The obtained nanorings exhibited uniform diameter and well distribution of C and Si elements, along with superior high-rate capacity and good cycle stability as an anode for LIBs. Furthermore, they delivered high reversible capacity at ultra-low temperature, broadening the application possibilities of POSS.