Paving the path toward silicon as anode material for future solid-state batteries

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have emerged as an important technology for powering future electric vehicles and other applications due to their potential for enhanced safety and higher energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Among future energy storage systems, SSBs (either semi or full SSBs) are the most promising candidates in terms of safety, cost, performance, and compactness. There has been a great effort to utilize silicon (Si) anode in SSBs due to its high specific capacity (3590 mAh g−1), low cost, and earth abundance. SSBs with silicon anodes displayed attractive application prospects. The current research efforts showed that there is a great need to understand electrochemical performance, especially the interphase behavior, Si material design, and advanced tools for analytical characterization. In this review, we provide insights about the Si anode design, interface issues, SEI formation, failure mechanisms, and material modifications for the development of next-generation Si-based SSBs of use to bridge the gap between applied research and industrial scale applications.