Graphene Induced Growth of Single Crystalline Sb2MoO6 Sheets and the Sodium Storage Performance

Abstract

Ternary oxides have been widely investigated as excellent anode candidates for LIBs with good cycling and rate capability. In the initial lithiation process, the ternary oxides decompose into Li-alloying metal particles distributed in the matrix of the second inert metal nanoparticles and Li2O. The matrix can act as effective buffer layer and alleviate the aggregation of nanoparticles. Therefore, some ternary oxide anodes for LIBs show greatly improved cyclability and rate performance. Meanwhile, according to some reported publications, single crystalline materials, which has crystallographically oriented structure with few grain boundaries, can facilitate electron and ion transport compared with the amorphous or polycrystalline counterpart. Inspired by the above strategies, we reported here a single crystalline Sb2MoO6/reduced graphene oxides composite as anode for SIBs. Interestingly, the Sb2MoO6 particles grow into large single crystalline sheets with the induction of graphene oxide in the hydrothermal process, and the obtained Sb2MoO6/RGO composites exhibit excellent electrochemical performance, delivering a high capacity of 430 mAh g-1 at 0.05 A g-1 and maintains 270 mAh g-1 at high current density of 4 A g-1. A capacity retention of 93.2% can be acquired after 220 cycles at 0.2 A g-1. To the best of our knowledge, the single crystalline Sb2MoO6/RGO composites is investigated as anode for SIBs for the first time. Figure 1