Low temperature solvothermal synthesis of nanosized NiSb as a Li-ion battery anode material

Nanosized intermetallic compound NiSb was successfully synthesized by a solvothermal route and studied as a promising anode material for secondary lithium-ion batteries. The as-prepared NiSb powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The electrochemical performance of the nanosized NiSb electrode was investigated by constant current charge and discharge cycling and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was found that the nanosized NiSb shows a higher initial capacity compared to microsized one prepared by a levitation-melting/ball-milling route due to larger specific surface area of the nanomaterial. The nanosized NiSb shows a rapid capacity fade due to the pulverization and exfoliation of active material caused by severe electrochemical grinding upon long-term cycling.