Facile synthesis of Sb nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene oxides as excellent anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Antimony/reduced graphene oxide (Sb/rGO) composite is prepared successfully with the addition of rGO nanosheets via a facile one-step chemical deposition route using SbCl₃ as the precursor, which could form metallic Sb nanoparticles anchored on the rGO sheets submerging in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) without any other addition of surfactant. Microstructure characterization tests reveal the sheet-like Sb/rGO composite consisting of the ultrafine Sb nanoparticles uniformly and intimately dispersed on the rGO nanosheets. In this special structure, rGO nanosheets with the preponderance of ultra-thin and flexible not only restrain the tremendous volume change of Sb nanoparticles but also have a brilliant synergistic effect and strong bonding effect along with Sb nanoparticles and improve the conductivity of active material. Therefore, as an anode material with promoted electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries, Sb/rGO composite shows the high reversible capacity of 797.5 mAh g⁻¹ and 562.9 mAh g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at the current density of 80 mA g⁻¹ and 430 mA g⁻¹, respectively. And the rate performance is also improved due to the existence of rGO nanosheets as an indispensable role in the Sb/rGO composite.