Improved anode performance of Ni-P-coated Si thick-film electrodes for Li-ion battery

To improve the deviation of cycling performances as Li-ion battery anode, we controlled the morphology of Ni–P layers deposited on Si particles in thick-film electrodes prepared by a gas-deposition method. The spotty Ni–P layers were uniformly coated on Si particles by an electroless deposition in a neutral bath. The resulting electrodes using Ni–P-coated Si exhibited excellent cycling performances and their good reproducibility. The reason for the improvement of performances is probably that the Ni–P layers can effectively release a stress generated by alloying/dealloying reactions of Li with Si.