

Ghosh Chaudhuri R, Paria S (2011) Core/shell nanoparticles: classes, properties, synthesis mechanisms, characterization, and applications. cycle number at different current densities. Specific capacity and Coulombic efficiency of half cells vs. The improvement is attributed to the synergistic effects of the engineered void and conductive carbon shell in Graphical Abstract Electrochemical results indicate significant improvements in the specific capacity and cycling stability of half-cells in comparison to other designs. The hollow Si nanospheres are coated with a carbon shell to form which are evaluated as the active material for Li-ion battery anodes. Removal of the byproducts from the reduction is critical for superior electrochemical performance. The PS core is burnt via a step-wise programmed heating to prevent the formation of cracks in hollow SiO 2 nanospheres which are subsequently converted to hollow Si nanospheres through magnesiothermic reduction using MgH 2.

Both the sol–gel reaction time and hydrolysis ratio play an important role in controlling the thickness of the SiO 2 shell. The positively charged surface of sacrificial polystyrene (PS) nanospheres is found to be essential in forming a uniform SiO 2 shell on PS through sol–gel reactions of tetraethylorthosilicate in a basic medium. The key synthesis parameters and their optimization are studied.

In this study a templating method to form hollow Si nanospheres encapsulated with a carbon shell has been investigated.
