High-Performance Sb/Sb2 O3 Anode Materials Using a Polypyrrole Nanowire Network for Na-Ion Batteries.

Three-dimensional porous Sb/Sb2 O3 anode materials are successfully fabricated using a simple electrodeposition method with a polypyrrole nanowire network. The Sb/Sb2 O3 -PPy electrode exhibits excellent cycle performance and outstanding rate capabilities; the charge capacity is sustained at 512.01 mAh g(-1) over 100 cycles, and 56.7% of the charge capacity at a current density of 66 mA g(-1) is retained at 3300 mA g(-1) . The improved electrochemical performance of the Sb/Sb2 O3 -PPy electrode is attributed not only to the use of a highly porous polypyrrole nanowire network as a substrate but also to the buffer effects of the Sb2 O3 matrix on the volume expansion of Sb. Ex situ scanning electron microscopy observation confirms that the Sb/Sb2 O3 -PPy electrode sustains a strong bond between the nanodeposits and polypyrrole nanowires even after 100 cycles, which maintains good electrical contact of Sb/Sb2 O3 with the current collector without loss of the active materials.