Fabrication of GeP/carbon composites with hedgehog structure towards lithium-ion battery anode

Abstract

The microstructure control of germanium phosphide (GeP) is still a big challenge. Herein, GeP bars with ∼200 nm diameter was fabricated by phosphating Ge powder within highly porous carbon materials, the effects of carbon framework on the growth of GeP bars was systematically explored. Experimental results indicated that GeP bars can be obtained in wide range of mCite:mCeO2 ratio (33–75%). Especially, when the mCite:mGeO2 was 33%, the yielding hedgehog-like GeP/C anode materials exhibited the best reversibility and long-cycle stability, i.e., a reversible capacity of 1082 mAh g−1 at 100th cycle. The synthetic approach was promising for the Ge-based anode for future lithium-ion battery.