Sb-Based Alloy (NiSb, FeSb2) Nanoparticles Decorated Graphene Prepared by One-Step Solvothermal Route as Anode for Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

NiSb/graphene and FeSb2/graphene nanocomposites were fabricated by a facile one-step solvothermal route using graphite oxide, NiCl2.2H2O (or FeCl3·6H2O) and SbCl3 as the starting materials and NaBH4 as the reductant. NiSb (20-30 nm) and FeSb2 (around 5 nm) nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed and confined by the graphene sheets, forming a unique hybrid nanostructure. The electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite were investigated by galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanocomposites exhibit an obviously enhanced electrochemical performance compared with bare alloys. The improvement in the electrochemical performance could be attributed to the introduction of graphene that constructs a two-dimensional conductive network, uniformly disperses and confines the alloy particles and effectively buffers the volume changes.