Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters) ›› 2018, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (9): 910-922.DOI: 10.1007/s40195-018-0733-5

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Scalable Synthesis of Hierarchical Antimony/Carbon Micro-/Nanohybrid Lithium/Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes Based on Dimethacrylate Monomer

Su-Zhe Liang1,2, Xiao-Yan Wang2,3, Yong-Gao Xia2, Sen-Lin Xia4, Ezzeldin Metwalli4, Bao Qiu2, Qing Ji2,5, Shan-Shan Yin1,2, Shuang Xie2,3, Kai Fang2,6, Lu-Yao Zheng2,3, Mei-Mei Wang2, Xiu-Xia Zuo2,3, Ru-Jiang Li1, Zhao-Ping Liu2, Jin Zhu2, Peter Müller-Buschbaum4, Ya-Jun Cheng2,7()   

  1. 1. North University of ChinaTaiyuanChina
    2. Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and EngineeringChinese Academy of SciencesNingboChina
    3. University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
    4. Physik-Department, Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle MaterialienTechnische Universit?t MünchenGarchingGermany;
    5. The University of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingboChina
    6. Nano Science and Technology InstituteUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaSuzhouChina
    7. Department of MaterialsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
  • Received:2017-12-19 Revised:2018-02-13 Online:2018-09-10 Published:2018-09-29

Abstract:

A facile scalable synthesis of hierarchical Sb/C micro-/nanohybrid has been addressed in this work, which possesses the advantages of both micrometer and nanometer scale structures as lithium-ion battery anode. Difunctional methacrylate monomers are used as solvent and carbon source as well. Liquid precursor of antimony(III) n-butoxide is dissolved in the resin monomer solution, and further incorporated into the cross-linking polymer network via photo polymerization. Through calcination in argon/hydrogen atmosphere, antimony nanoparticles are in situ formed by carbothermal reduction, and homogeneously embedded in the in situ formed micrometer sized carbon matrix. The morphology, structure, crystallinity, spatial dispersion, composition, and electrochemical performance of the Sb/C micro-/nanohybrid are systematically investigated. The cyclic and rate performance of the Sb/C micro-/nanohybrid anode have been effectively improved compared to the pure carbon anode. A reversible capacity of 362 mAh g-1 is achieved with a reasonable mass loading density after 300 cycles at 66 mA g-1, corresponding to capacity retention of 79%. With reducing mass loading density, the reversible capacity reaches 793 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of Sb/C micro-/nanohybrid as sodium-ion battery anode is also investigated in this study.

Key words: Antimony/carbon micro-/nanohybrid, Lithium-ion battery, Sodium-ion battery, Anode, Methacrylate, Photo polymerization, Thermosetting resin