Red-phosphorus-impregnated carbon nanofibers for sodium-ion batteries and liquefaction of red phosphorus

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 2520
• Main Authors: Liu, Yihang, Liu, Qingzhou, Jian, Cheng, Cui, Dingzhou, Chen, Mingrui, Li, Zhen, Li, Teng, Nilges, Tom, He, Kai, Jia, Zheng, Zhou, Chongwu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20.05.2020; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301; 639/4077; 639/925; Anodes; Carbon; Carbon fibers; Chemical reactions; Cycles; Deformability; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Formability; Humanities and Social Sciences; Liquefaction; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Mechanical properties; multidisciplinary; Nanofibers; Phosphorus; Rechargeable batteries; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Side reactions; Sodium; Sodium-ion batteries; Synthesis; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16077-z

Red phosphorus offers a high theoretical sodium capacity and has been considered as a candidate anode for sodium-ion batteries. Similar to silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries, the electrochemical performance of red phosphorus is plagued by the large volume variation upon sodiation. Here we perform in situ transmission electron microscopy analysis of the synthesized red-phosphorus-impregnated carbon nanofibers with the corresponding chemo-mechanical simulation, revealing that, the sodiated red phosphorus becomes softened with a “liquid-like” mechanical behaviour and gains superior malleability and deformability against pulverization. The encapsulation strategy of the synthesized red-phosphorus-impregnated carbon nanofibers has been proven to be an effective method to minimize the side reactions of red phosphorus in sodium-ion batteries, demonstrating stable electrochemical cycling. Our study provides a valid guide towards high-performance red-phosphorus-based anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Red phosphorus is a promising anode for Na-ion batteries but suffers from large volume change upon cycling. Here the authors show a red-phosphorus-impregnated carbon nanofiber design in which the sodiated red phosphorus is featured by a “liquid-like” behavior and ultra-stable electrochemical performance is realized.