Lecture curated by Hamide Darjazi, Assistant Professor of Principles of Chemistry for Applied Technologies at the Politecnico di Torino and Antunes Staffolani, Assistant Professor (RTDA) of Inorganic Chemistry at the Alma Mater University of Bologna.

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The transition to silicon-carbon composite anodes in lithium-ion batteries offers numerous advantages over traditional graphite anodes. Primarily, silicon exhibits a significantly higher theoretical capacity, reaching up to 4200 mAh/g, compared to the approximate 372 mAh/g of graphite. This increase enables greater energy storage, resulting in longer battery life and enhanced vehicle range. Additionally, composite structures help mitigate silicon's volumetric expansion during cycling, which typically leads to cracking and performance deterioration. Furthermore, these composites improve electrical conductivity and cycling stability, addressing common issues associated with pure silicon anodes. Overall, the use of silicon-carbon composites promises to boost battery performance, supporting the growing demand for efficient energy storage solutions.