Article Title

SnSb@carbon nanocable anchored on graphene sheets for sodium ion batteries

Authors

Li Li, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Kuok Hau Seng, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Dan Li, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Yongyao Xia, Department of Chemistry, Institute of New Energy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
Hua Kun Liu, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Zaiping Guo, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia

Keywords

SnSb, grapheme, coaxial structure, sodium ion batteries

Abstract

The development of materials with unique nanostructures is an effective strategy for the improvement of sodium storage in sodium ion batteries to achieve stable cycling performance and good rate capability. In this work, SnSb- core/carbon-shell nanocables directly anchored on graphene sheets (GS) were synthesized by the hydrothermal technique and chemical vapor deposition. The simultaneous carbon coating and the encapsulation of SnSb alloy is effective for alleviating the volume-change problem in sodium ion batteries. After optimizing the electrolyte for SnSb in the sodium ion batteries, the optimized coaxial SnSb/carbon nanocable/GS (SnSb/CNT@GS) nanostructure demonstrated stable cycling capability and rate performance in 1 M NaClO4 with propylene carbonate (PC) + 5% fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC).The SnSb/CNT@GS electrode can retain a capacity of 360 mAh/g for up to 100 cycles, which is 71% of the theoretical capacity. This is higher than in the other three electrolytes tested (1 M NaClO4 in PC, 1 M NaClO4 in PC/FEC (1:1 v/v) and 1 M NaPF6 + PC), and higher than that of the sample without the addition of graphene. The good electrochemical performance can be attributed to the efficient buffering provided by the outer carbon nanocable layer and the graphene inhibiting the agglomeration of SnSb particles, as well as its high conductivity.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0506-z

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Li Li,Kuok Hau Seng,Dan Li,Yongyao Xia,Hua Kun Liu,Zaiping Guo, SnSb@carbon nanocable anchored on graphene sheets for sodium ion batteries. NanoRes.2014, 7(10): 1466–1476