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Ultrafine nano-scale Cu2Sb alloy confined in three-dimensional porous carbon as an anode for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries

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Abstract

Ultrafine nano-scale Cu2Sb alloy confined in a three-dimensional porous carbon was synthesized using NaCl template-assisted vacuum freeze-drying followed by high-temperature sintering and was evaluated as an anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). The alloy exerts excellent cycling durability (the capacity can be maintained at 328.3 mA·h·g−1 after 100 cycles for SIBs and 260 mA·h·g−1 for PIBs) and rate capability (199 mA·h·g−1 at 5 A·g−1 for SIBs and 148 mA·h·g−1 at 5 A·g−1 for PIBs) because of the smooth electron transport path, fast Na/K ion diffusion rate, and restricted volume changes from the synergistic effect of three-dimensional porous carbon networks and the ultrafine bimetallic nanoalloy. This study provides an ingenious design route and a simple preparation method toward exploring a high-property electrode for K-ion and Na-ion batteries, and it also introduces broad application prospects for other electrochemical applications.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51871046, 51902046, 52071073, 51874079, 51571054, 51771046, and 51674068), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province, China (No. 201602257), Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, China (Nos. E2019501097, E2018501091, E2020501004), the Science and Technology Project of Hebei Province, China (No. 15271302D), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (Nos. N182304017, N182304015, N172302001, N172304044).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Dan Wang, Qun Ma, Kang-hui Tian, Chan-Qin Duan, Zhi-yuan Wang & Yan-guo Liu

  2. School of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China

    Dan Wang, Zhi-yuan Wang & Yan-guo Liu

  3. Key Laboratory of Dielectric and Electrolyte Functional Material Hebei Province, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China

    Dan Wang, Zhi-yuan Wang & Yan-guo Liu

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  1. Dan Wang
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  2. Qun Ma
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Wang, D., Ma, Q., Tian, Kh. et al. Ultrafine nano-scale Cu2Sb alloy confined in three-dimensional porous carbon as an anode for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries. Int J Miner Metall Mater 28, 1666–1674 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-021-2286-2

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