A review of the carbon coating of the silicon anode in high-performance lithium-ion batteries

• Silicon anodes offer ultrahigh theoretical capacity but suffer from volume expansion and unstable SEI, limiting commercial use. • 3D carbon coatings effectively buffer mechanical strain and isolate electrolyte, improving structural stability and interface properties. • Various carbon materials (amorphous carbon, graphite) and novel coating methods are reviewed for enhancing Si anode performance. • Modification of carbon shells and exploration of substitutes are current research directions to overcome remaining drawbacks.