Sb nanocrystal-anchored hollow carbon microspheres for high-capacity and high-cycling performance lithium-ion batteries

There is a great need to develop sustainable and clean energy storage devices and systems of high-energy and high-capacity densities. In this work, we synthesize antimony (Sb) nanocrystal-anchored hollow carbon microspheres (Sb@HCMs) via the calcination of cultivated yeast cells and the reduction of SbCl₃ in an ethylene glycol solution on the surface of hollow carbon microspheres. The Sb@HCMs possess hollow and porous structure, and the Sb is present in the form of nanocrystals. Using the Sb@HCMs as the active-electrode material, we assemble lithium (Li)-ion half cells and full cells and investigate their electrochemical performance. The Li-ion half cells possess a charge capacity of 605 mA h g^-1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g^-1 and a charge capacity of 469.9 mA h g^-1 at a current density up to 1600 mA g^-1, which is much higher than the theoretical capacity of 372 mA h g^-1 for commercial graphite electrode. The Li-ion full cells with Sb@HCMs//LiCoO₂ deliver a charge capacity of 300 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 0.2 A g^-1 after 50 cycles, and have potential in applications of energy storage.