Two-step oxidation of bulk Sb to one-dimensional Sb2O4 submicro-ntubes as advanced anode materials for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries

Alloying-type Sb material has been considered as an excellent anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the limitation of capaCity is still a challenge urging to be solved. Thus, it will be extremely meaningful to exploit novel antimony oxides (Sb2O4) as high capacity anode material for both LIBs and SIBs. In this work, one-dimensional tube-like Sb2O4 submicron-structures are fabricated by a two-step Oxidation route, and their lithium and sodium storage behaviors are investigated to be conversion-alloying-type. When evaluated as an anode material with lithium as the counter electrode, the Sb2O4 submicron-structures deliver a discharge capacity of 700 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mAg(-1), which is higher than the alloying-type Sb anode materials with a theoretical capacity Of 660 mAh g(-1). Even at a high current density of 1000 mA g(-1), the substantial discharge capacity can still reach 415 mAh g(-1) after 100 repeated cycles. In addition, as for SIBs, the tube-like Sb2O4 submicron-structures can maintain a discharge capacity of 381.9 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 100 mA g(-1), higher than the reported results at this field. Such excellent cycling stability and rate capability of the designed Sb2O4 submicron-structure can be attributed to the morphology and structure. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.