Monodisperse CoSb nanocrystals as high-performance anode material for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Towards enhancement of the power density of Li-ion batteries (LIBs), antimony-based intermetallic compounds have recently attracted considerable attention as compelling anode materials owing to their high rate capability as compared to state-of-the-art graphite anodes. Here we report a facile colloidal synthesis of monodisperse CoSb nanocrystals (NCs) as a model intermetallic anode material for LIBs via the reaction between Co NCs and SbCl₃ in oleylamine under reducing conditions. We found that ca. 20 nm CoSb NCs exhibit enhanced cycling stability as compared to larger ca. 40 nm CoSb NCs and Sb NCs with size on the order of 20 nm.