Ultrafine nano-scale Cu_(2)Sb alloy confined in three-dimensional porous carbon as an anode for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries

摘要

Ultrafine nano-scale Cu2Sb alloy confined in a three-dimensional porous carbon was synthesized using NaCl template-assisted vacuum freeze-drying followed by high-temperature sintering and was evaluated as an anode for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)and potassium-ion batteries(PIBs).The alloy exerts excellent cycling durability(the capacity can be maintained at 328.3 mA·h·g^(-1) after 100 cycles for SIBs and 260 mA·h·g^(-1) for PIBs)and rate capability(199 mA·h·g^(-1) at 5 A·g^(-1) for SIBs and 148 mA·h·g^(-1) at 5 A·g^(-1) for PIBs)because of the smooth electron transport path,fast Na/K ion diffusion rate,and restricted volume changes from the synergistic effect of three-dimensional porous carbon networks and the ultrafine bimetallic nanoalloy.This study provides an ingenious design route and a simple preparation method toward exploring a high-property electrode for K-ion and Na-ion batteries,and it also introduces broad application prospects for other electrochemical applications.