Lithium insertion into new graphite-antimony composites

Metal-based composites are under investigation as possible negative-electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries. In this paper, we present a new composite material constituted of antimony particles dispersed on graphite. The antimony-graphite compound is prepared by antimony pentachloride reduction with KC8 in tetrahydrofuran. The high reversible capacity of 420 mAh g(-1) and the good stability suggest that the association of antimony with graphite allows not only to improve reversible capacity but also to prevent the metal from particle pulverisation generally occurring during lithium alloying. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.