Si nanoflake-assembled blocks towards high initial coulombic efficiency anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Assisted by artificial amorphous copper silicate, Si with a flake-like structure was obtained through a facile magnesiothermic reduction. The Si anodes exhibit excellent cyclic performance and rate performance. Particularly, a high initial coulombic efficiency of 85%-89% was obtained due to their greatly reduced surface and internal defects.