Facile Synthesis of Aluminum-Antimony Alloys and Their Application for Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Storage

Abstract

An aluminum-antimony alloy (Al-Sb) composite with a novel nanostructure was fabricated by high-energy ball milling (HEBM), and the composite was explored as an anode material for lithium-ion (Li-ion) and sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries. HEBM treatment of Al and Sb in the absence of carbon generated the pure AlSb alloy. On the other hand, when the nanocomposite was prepared with carbon, the final product was Sb@AlxCy-C, where Sb nanocrystallites were dispersed in a hybrid matrix consisting of amorphous AlxCy and carbon. Comparison of the electrochemical performances of the AlSb and Sb@AlxCy-C electrodes showed that the composite with the hybrid matrix exhibited better cyclability and rate capability in both the Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. Specifically, the use of the Sb@AlxCy-C anode in the Li-ion and Na-ion batteries resulted in stable specific capacity, corresponding to similar to 400 mAh g(-1) and similar to 160 mAh g(-1), respectively, at the 100th cycle, and also gave rise to a high rate capability of similar to 60% for the Li-ion battery and similar to 70% for the Na-ion battery at 3,000 mA g(-1). This enhanced performance can be attributed to the hybrid matrix comprised of AlxCy-C, which acts as an effective buffer for large volume expansion during lithiation and sodiation.