Sn-SbSn Nanoparticles Embedded in Nitrogen-Doped Porous Honeycomb Carbon for Advanced Sodium Ion Storage

Sn and Sb-based materials show appealing features of large storage capacity and appropriate electrochemical platforms as anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Nevertheless, the dreadful bulk variation and tardy ion transport dynamics trigger irreparable active materials collapse and limited rate property. Herein, a composite electrode combining Sn-SbSn with N-doped carbon is designed to pursue advanced electrochemical sodium storage properties as an anode material. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate the homogeneous dispersion of ultrafine Sn-SbSn particles on NC nanosheets, which assemble into a honeycomb-like architecture. TEM and X-ray diffraction confirm the formation of a hybrid Sn-SbSn. The ingenious NC architecture plays the role of charge transport highway network for fast dynamics and relieves volume change for prolonged cycles, which also provides an exposed surface for Sn-SbSn nanoparticle dispersion and surface sodium storage. The electrochemical experiments show the attractive potential of designed Sn-SbSn/NC as an advanced electrode for SIBs with stable cyclic property of 236 mAh g–1 at 2 A g–1 after 1000 cycles and remarkable rate property by virtue of these benefits. This work provides specific insight into activating the sodium storage performances of alloying-type electrodes with distinctive carbon architecture.