Ni12P5 Nanoparticles Hinged by Carbon Nanotubes as 3D Mesoporous Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Graphical Easy, yet effective : A facile and cost-effective one-step strategy was introduced to fabricate a 3D mesoporous Ni 12 P 5 /carbon nanotubes (Ni 12 P 5 /CNTs) hybrid by using natural abundant and non-toxic red phosphorous (RP) at low-temperature of 160 °C. The electrochemical results confirm that this unique 3D architecture has improved electrochemical performance. A unique 3D mesoporous interconnected Ni 12 P 5 /CNTs hybrid was constructed by a facile one-step hydrothermal method and investigated as anode toward lithium-ion batteries. The results show that Ni 12 P 5 nanoparticles are well hinged by the flexible CNTs, forming a hierarchically integrated structure. The system delivers an initial discharge capacity of 1108 mAh g −1 and a high reversible discharge capacity of 676 mAh g −1 after 120 cycles at 200 mA g −1 . Furthermore, the hybrid also achieved long-term cycling stability and good rate capability, such as 584 mAh g −1 at a current density of 400 mA g −1 after 240 cycles and 245 mAh g −1 at a rate current density of 3200 mA g −1 . The enhanced electrochemical performance could be attributed to the synergistic effect of increased specific surface area, mesoporous structures, and 3D interconnected conductive network