▎ 摘　　要

NOVELTY - Producing a silicon (Si) nanowire/graphene hybrid material involves: (a) preparing a mixture of catalyst metal-coated silicon (Si) particles, graphene sheets, and an optional blowing agent, where the Si particles have a particle diameter from 50 nm to 50 mu m and the catalyst metal is in a form of nanoparticles having a diameter from 0.5-100 nm or a thin coating having a thickness from 0.5-100 nm deposited on surfaces of the Si particles and optionally on surfaces of graphene sheets, and where the Si particles contain pure Si having at least 99.9 wt.% Si element or a Si alloy or mixture having from 70-99.9 wt.% silicon; (b) exposing the mixture to a high temperature environment, including a temperature from 100-2,500 degrees C for a period of time sufficient to induce volatile gas molecules from the graphene sheets or to activate the blowing agent for producing a porous graphene structure. USE - Method for producing a silicon (Si) nanowire/graphene hybrid material as a lithium-ion battery anode active material. ADVANTAGE - The silicon nanowire/graphene hybrid material has small particle sizes (for high-rate capacity), excellent reversible capacity, cycling stability, low irreversible capacity, high effectiveness in reducing the internal stress or strain during the lithium ion insertion and extraction steps, and high compatibility with commonly used electrolytes. The silicon nanowire/graphene hybrid material can be produced in a cost-effective manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Producing a silicon (Si) nanowire/graphene hybrid material involves: (a) preparing a mixture of catalyst metal-coated silicon (Si) particles, graphene sheets, and an optional blowing agent, where the Si particles have a particle diameter from 50 nm to 50 mu m and the catalyst metal is in a form of nanoparticles having a diameter from 0.5-100 nm or a thin coating having a thickness from 0.5-100 nm deposited on surfaces of the Si particles and optionally on surfaces of graphene sheets, and where the Si particles contain pure Si having at least 99.9 wt.% Si element or a Si alloy or mixture having from 70-99.9 wt.% silicon; (b) exposing the mixture to a high temperature environment, including a temperature from 100-2,500 degrees C for a period of time sufficient to induce volatile gas molecules from the graphene sheets or to activate the blowing agent for producing a porous graphene structure or a graphene foam and to enable a catalyst metal-catalyzed growth of multiple Si nanowires emanating from the Si particles as a feed material to form an amount of graphene foam-protected or porous graphene structure-enclosed Si nanowires; where the Si nanowires have a diameter from 2 nm to 100 nm, a length from 50 nm to 20 mu m, and a length-to-diameter aspect ratio of at least 5 and the Si nanowires are in an amount from 0.5-99 wt.% based on the total weight of the graphene and the Si nanowires combined; and (c) operating a mechanical breaking method to produce the Si nanowire/graphene hybrid material in a powder mass form.