Facile and Scalable Synthesis of Silicon-Based Nanocomposites with Slitlike Nanopores: A Solid-State Exfoliation Reaction Using Layered CaSi2

Silicon-based nanocomposites with slitlike nanopores were prepared by heating a mixture of layered CaSi2 and NiCl2. The formation mechanism is based on a solid-state exfoliation reaction wherein the formation of CaCl2 promotes the extraction of Ca from CaSi2, thereby exfoliating the layered structure. The nanocomposites showed anode capacity for lithium ion batteries up to 804 mAhg(-1).