Reduced Graphene Oxide-Incorporated SnSb@CNF Composites as Anodes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries because of the low cost and natural abundance of sodium resources. Nevertheless, low energy density and poor cycling stability of current SIBs unfavorably hinder their practical implementation for the smart power grid and stationary storage applications. Antimony tin (SnSb) is one of the most promising anode materials for next-generation SIBs attributing to its high capacity, high abundance, and low toxicity. However, the practical application of SnSb anodes in SIBs is currently restricted because of their large volume changes during cycling, which result in serious pulverization and loss of electrical contact between the active material and the carbon conductor. Herein, we apply reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-incorporated SnSb@carbon nanofiber (SnSb@rGO@CNF) composite anodes in SIBs that can sustain their structural stability during prolonged charge-discharge cycles. Electrochemical performance results shed light on that the combination of rGO, CNF, and SnSb alloy led to a high-capacity anode (capacity of 490 mAh g^-1  at the 10th cycle) with a high capacity retention of 87.2% and a large Coulombic efficiency of 97.9% at the 200th cycle. This work demonstrates that the SnSb@rGO@CNF composite is a potential and attractive anode material for next-generation, high-energy SIBs.