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

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 Ni₂P particles with N-doped carbon encapsulation on Co(OH)₂ nanosheets (Co(OH)₂/Ni₂P@N-C). This distinctive hybrid structure enhances electron/ion conductivity and reduces the Li⁺ transport distance, thereby boosting LIB performance. The hierarchical Co(OH)₂/Ni₂P@N-C hybrid anode delivers a high reversible capacity of 610 mAh g^-1 at 0.05 A g^-1 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.