Hierarchical Phosphide-Based Hybrid Anodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Xiao, Shanshan; Chen, Yong; Zhou, Xianggang; Sun, Hechen; Wan, Wubin; Li, Yingqi; Yao, Ruiqi; Bi, Fei et al. · Nano Lett · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have emerged as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their poor intrinsic conductivity and significant volume changes result in slow redox kinetics and structural collapse during cycling, which hinder their practical application. Here, a hierarchical hybrid anode is synthesized by evenly dispersing Ni<sub>2</sub>P particles with N-doped carbon encapsulation on Co(OH)<sub>2</sub> nanosheets (Co(OH)<sub>2</sub>/Ni<sub>2</sub>P@N-C). This distinctive hybrid structure enhances electron/ion conductivity and reduces the Li<sup>+</sup> transport distance, thereby boosting LIB performance. The hierarchical Co(OH)<sub>2</sub>/Ni<sub>2</sub>P@N-C hybrid anode delivers a high reversible capacity of 610 mAh g<sup>-1</sup> at 0.05 A g<sup>-1</sup> and exhibits exceptional long-term stability. This approach could pave the way for the development of high-performance LIBs and provide crucial guidance for designing high-energy-density anodes based on TMPs.