Aluminum phosphide as a high-performance lithium-ion battery anode

We report aluminum phosphide (AlP) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries for the first time. AlP was prepared from aluminum and black phosphorus via a ball milling method, and further milled with carbon nanotubes to enhance its conductivity. The AlP electrode possesses excellent electrochemical properties, having a reversible specific capacity of 1463 mA h g(-1) at 0.1C (1C = 1850 mA h/g), 650 mA h g(-1) without obviously decay over 2000 cycles at 1C, and high-rate capabilities up to 50C. Both coin-type and pouch-type full cells with AlP anodes are assembled and demonstrate as a reliable power supply to drive electronic devices. This study shows that AlP is an anode material with characteristics including high capacity, ultra-long cycling stabiltiy and high rate capabilities, making it a new class of graphite alternative for LIB anodes.