Enhanced cycling stability of antimony anode by downsizing particle and combining carbon nanotube for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

Abstract

Antimony (Sb) nanoparticles (SbNP) encapsulated in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) matrix has been fabricated by a facile two-step ball milling strategy, including a sand milling process to prepare Sb nanoparticles and following high-energy ball milling to synthesize SbNP-MWCNT composite. As an anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), the SbNP-MWCNT composite with high Sb content (80%) can deliver a reversible capacity of 471.1 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1 with an initial coulombic efficiency of 73.5%, excellent cycling stability (94.1% capacity retention at 800 mA g−1) and high rate capability (210.7 mA h g−1 at 3200 mA g−1). The excellent electrochemical performance of the SbNP-MWCNT composite results from the synergistic effect of downsizing Sb particles and combining MWCNTs.