High-performance red phosphorus-sulfurized polyacrylonitrile composite by electrostatic spray deposition for lithium-ion batteries

Red phosphorus (RP) is a promising anode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) application due to its high theoretical capacity, chemical stability, and low cost. However, poor electrical conductivity and huge volume expansion over cycling limited the actual practical application of RP. In this work, red phosphorus/sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (RP-SPAN) hybrid anode material was synthesized for high-performance LIBs through high-energy ball milling and electrostatic spray deposition technique. SPAN as a conductive agent, not only provides better kinetics but also acts as a sufficient matrix with chemical bonding between SPAN and RP. Binder-free RP-SPAN hybrid anode delivered a highly reversible specific capacity of 1605 mAh g(-1) at 100 mAh g(-1) and high-rate capability of 696 mAh g(-1) at 1 A g(-1). The advantages of facile preparation and high electrochemical performance demonstrate that the RP-SPAN hybrid material is a promising alternative anode material for advanced LIBs. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.