Sn4P3–C nanospheres as high capacitive and ultra-stable anodes for sodium ion and lithium ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 6; no. 36; pp. 17437 - 17443
• Main Authors: Choi, Jonghyun, Won-Sik, Kim, Kyeong-Ho, Kim, Seong-Hyeon Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 2018
• Subjects: Anodes; Ball milling; carbon; Carbonization; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Lithium; lithium batteries; Lithium-ion batteries; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanospheres; Phosphating (coating); Phosphides; Polysaccharides; Rechargeable batteries; Redox potential; Sodium; Sodium-ion batteries; Stability; tin; Tin dioxide
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ta05586f

Tin phosphide (Sn4P3) has emerged as an anode for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) due to its high reversible capacity and low redox potential. Sn4P3 shows a synergistic Na-storage reaction to form Na15Sn4 and Na3P, but suffers from large volume expansion and Sn aggregation during the Na+ insertion–extraction resulting in poor cycle stability. Sn4P3 has also been considered a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), but very limited studies have been performed. Herein, core–shell Sn4P3–C (carbon) composite nanospheres are fabricated by carbonization/reduction and phosphorization of SnO2–GCP (glucose-derived, carbon-rich polysaccharide) nanospheres. The size of Sn4P3–C nanospheres is controlled to optimize their electrochemical performance as long-term stable anodes for SIBs and LIBs. Among them, the 140 nm-sized Sn4P3–C nanosphere electrode exhibits high reversible capacity, high rate capability, and ultra-long cycle stability as an anode for both SIBs and LIBs, delivering a high capacity of 420 mA h g−1 after 2000 cycles (SIBs) and 440 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles (LIBs) at a high current density of 2000 mA g−1. Hence, the Sn4P3–C nanospheres can be considered as a promising anode material for next generation SIBs and LIBs.