Crystalline red phosphorus incorporated with porous carbon nanofibers as flexible electrode for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Here we demonstrated porous carbon nanofibers encapsulated with crystalline red P (P-PCNFs) as free-standing anodes for LIBs with high specific capacity and excellent electrochemical cycling. The porous carbon nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PAN/PMMA), followed by thermal carbonization process. The P-PCNFs delivered an excellent cyclability (∼2030 mAh g−1 at 0.1C rate after 100 cycles) and outstanding rate capability (380 mAh g−1 at 11C for 10 cycles), where those capacity values were calculated based on the red P percentage. Even at a rate of 1C, this composite could deliver a superior capacity of 1042 mAh g−1 based on the content of red P after 100 cycles. The pores of porous carbon nanofibers could effectively accommodate the volume change of crystalline red P during cycling. Furthermore, the carbon nanofibers matrix not only enables fast access of ions but also grants the electrode with good conductivity and high mechanical flexibility.