Hierarchical phosphorus hybrids with carbon nanotube veins and black phosphorus skins: Structure and lithium storage properties

Phosphorus structures are promising anode materials for lithium and sodium ion batteries. However, the cycle stability is a big challenge for most phosphorus anode materials due to pulverization. Black phosphorus has been demonstrated to have extremely high stability as anodes due to its layered features. Black phosphorus have been in situ grown to wrap hierarchical phosphorus hybrids with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) veins. The electrochemical performances of the hierarchical phosphorus hybrids have been significantly enhanced due to the black phosphorus skins and wrapped amorphous and fibrous phosphorus. Extremely high cycle stability and high specific capacitiyes have been achieved by the new hierarchical phosphorus hybrids. A specific capacity of 560 mAh g⁻¹ has been still obtained at a current rate of 500 mA g⁻¹ after 250 cycles.