Crystalline red phosphorus incorporated with porous carbon nanofibers as flexible electrode for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Here we demonstrated porous carbon nanofibers encapsulated with crystalline red P (P-PCNFs) as free-standing anodes for LIBs with high specific capacity and excellent electrochemical cycling. The porous carbon nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PAN/PMMA), followed by thermal carbonization process. The P-PCNFs delivered an excellent cyclability (similar to,2030 mAh g(-1) at 0.1C rate after 100 cycles) and outstanding rate capability (380 mAh g(-1) at 11C for 10 cycles), where those capacity values were calculated based on the red P percentage. Even at a rate of 1C, this composite could deliver a superior capacity of 1042 mAh g(-1) based on the content of red P after 100 cycles. The pores of porous carbon nanofibers could effectively accommodate the volume change of crystalline red P during cycling. Furthermore, the carbon nanofibers matrix not only enables fast access of ions but also grants the electrode with good conductivity and high mechanical flexibility. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.