Silicon nanowire structure embedded in nickel silicide nanowires for lithium-based battery anodes

A silicon (Si) nanowire structure embedded in nickel silicide (NiSix) nanowires comprising:

• a substrate;
• a nickel (Ni) thin film deposited on the substrate;
• Si nanowires randomly distributed on the nickel (Ni) thin film;
• and
• NiSix nanowires embedding the Si nanowires while being deposited on the Ni thin film,
• wherein the NiSix nanowires provide elastic contact with respect to the Si nanowire, and have a structure which withstands the volume expansion of the Si nanowires,
• wherein the NiSix nanowires are grown on the Si nanowires disposed on the Ni thin film,
• wherein the Si nanowires and NiSix nanowires are solid,
• wherein the NiSix nanowires cover at least a portion of the outside of the Si nanowire, and
• wherein the substrate is a current collector of an anode.