Intimately coupled MoP nanocrystalline@carbon nanosheets-assembled hierarchical mesoporous nanospheres for high-performance sodium-ion storage

Metal Phosphide Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries: Latest Applications and Progress

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), as the next-generation high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices, have attracted widespread attention due to their cost-effectiveness and wide geographical distribution of sodium. As a crucial component of the structure of SIBs, the anode material plays a crucial role in determining its electrochemical performance. Significantly, metal phosphide exhibits remarkable application prospects as an anode material for SIBs because of its low redox potential and high theoretical capacity. However, due to volume expansion limitations and other factors, the rate and cycling performance of metal phosphides have gradually declined. To address these challenges, various viable solutions have been explored. In this paper, the recent research progress of metal phosphide materials for SIBs is systematically reviewed, including the synthesis strategy of metal phosphide, the storage mechanism of sodium ions, and the application of metal phosphide in electrochemical aspects. In addition, future challenges and opportunities based on current developments are presented.

Bismuth-Antimony Alloy Nanoparticles Embedded in 3D Hierarchical Porous Carbon Skeleton Film for Superior Sodium Storage

A composite film that features bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles uniformly embedded in a 3D hierarchical porous carbon skeleton is synthesized by the polyacrylonitrile-spreading method. The dissolved polystyrene is used as a soft template. The average diameter of the bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles is ~34.5 nm. The content of the Bi-Sb alloy has an impact on the electrochemical performance of the composite film. When the content of the bismuth-antimony alloy is 45.27%, the reversible capacity and cycling stability of the composite film are the best. Importantly, the composite film outperforms the bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles embedded in dense carbon film and the cube carbon nanobox in terms of specific capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability. The composite film can provide a discharge capacity of 322 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g-1, 292 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1, and 185 mAh g-1 after 2000 cycles at 10 A g-1. The carbon film prepared by the spreading method presents a unique integrated composite structure that significantly improves the structural stability and electronic conductivity of Bi-Sb alloy nanoparticles. The 3D hierarchical porous carbon skeleton structure further enhances electrolyte accessibility, promotes Na+ transport, increases reaction kinetics, and buffers internal stress.

Hydrothermal Preparation and High Electrochemical Performance of NiS Nanospheres as Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Nickel sulfide has been widely studied as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its environmental friendliness, low cost, high conductivity, and high theoretical capacity. A simple hydrothermal method was used to prepare NiS nanospheres materials with the size in the range of 100–500 nm. The NiS nanospheres electrodes exhibited a high reversible capacity of 1402.3 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 after 280 cycles and a strong rate capability of 814.8 mAh g−1 at 0.8 A g−1 and 1130.5 mAh g−1 when back to 0.1 A g−1. Excellent electrochemical properties and the simple preparation method of the NiS nanospheres make it possible to prepare NiS on a large scale as the anode of lithium-ion batteries.