Abstract:

This thesis investigates key challenges in the development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries by using a fully silicon-based nanowire anode as a model system. The work focuses on understanding the mechanisms responsible for capacity fading—such as SEI instability, mechanical degradation, and loss of electrical contact—while also identifying rate-limiting processes under fast-charging conditions. In parallel, strategies to improve the low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) are explored through prelithiation techniques. Finally, the influence of electrode surface area and microstructural design on electrochemical performance is systematically evaluated, with the aim of developing a transferable framework for optimizing silicon-based anode architectures.