Chemical doping of a core-shell silicon nanoparticles@polyaniline nanocomposite for the performance enhancement of a lithium ion battery anode.

New silicon based anodic materials in lithium ion batteries (Si-based LIBs) have been developed worldwide to overcome capacity decay during the lithiation/delithiation process. In this study, a composite of Si nanoparticles coated with 5-sulfoisophthalic acid (SPA) doped polyaniline (core/shell SiNPs@PANi/SPA) was prepared and applied as an anode material for LIB applications. The detailed structure of the core/shell SiNPs@PANi/SPA composite was characterized using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy before and after charging/discharging.