High synergetic transition metal phosphides@ nitrogen doped porous carbon nanosheets hybrids derived from silk fibroin and phytic acid self-assembly for ultra-high performance lithium storage

Abstract

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have received widespread attention due to their high theoretical specific capacity and fast reaction kinetics. However, their poor conductivity and volume changes during the cycle limited their applications. Herein, we explore a facile and cost-effective way to prepare core–shell-like transition metal phosphides (TMPs: CoP, Ni 2 P, Cu 3 P) nanoparticles embedded into nitrogen doped porous carbon nanosheets (denoted as CoP@NDPCS, Ni 2 P@NDPCS, Cu 3 P@NDPCS) via biological material-driven assembly and self-template strategy. By self-assembled process, the amino and carbonyl groups in silk fibroin can chelate with metal ions, and then phytic acid added undergoes a coordination reaction with the metal components. Subsequently, core-shell TMPs nanoparticles supported by nitrogen doped porous carbon nanosheets were prepared by a one-step high-temperature calcination process. The obtained unique hybrid structure material with enough vacancy space to alleviate volume expansion exhibits ultra-high specific capacity and excellent cycling performance for the anode of lithium-ion batteries. The CoP@NDPCS, Ni 2 P@NDPCS and Cu 3 P@NDPCS electrodes exhibit the reversible capacities of 1014.2, 486.5 and 877 mAh g −1 at the current density of 500 mA g -1 , respectively. The remarkable lithium storage performance of TMP@NDPCS indicates that a reasonable structure designed by biological material-driven is an effective and promising method to enhance the lithium storage of transition metal phosphides. Core-shell transition metal phosphides supported by N-doped porous carbon nanosheets were prepared by one-step high temperature calcination process. The unique hybrid structure materials exhibit ultra-high specific capacity and excellent cycling stability for the anode of lithium-ion batteries, and the reasonable structure design by biological material-driven is very effective and universal method to enhance the lithium storage of transition metal phosphides. • Carbon nanosheets derived from silk fibroin can effectively alleviate the volume expansion of TMPs during the cycling process. • The TMP@NDPCS materials exhibit ultra-high specific capacity and excellent cycling stability for lithium-ion batteries. • The TMP@NDPCS hybrid materials were synthesized by one step phosphating.