Pb-sandwiched nanoparticles as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

A sandwiched SiC@Pb@C nanocomposite was prepared through a simple ball-milling route and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The SiC@Pb@C nanocomposite exhibits a much improved reversible capacity and cycling life as compared with a bare Pb anode. A reversible volumetric capacity of >1,586 mAh cm⁻³ (207 mAh g⁻¹) can be maintained after 600 cycles of charge and discharge in the potential interval between 0.005 and 1.0 V, which far exceeds those reported previously in the literature. The enhanced electrochemical performance is ascribed to the sandwiched structure in which nanosized Pb particles were anchored in between the rigid SiC core and the outer carbon shell, mitigating the damage done by the large volume change of the Pb interlayer during the alloying/dealloying process.