Synthesis of ZnSb@C microflower composites and their enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries

ZnSb@C microflower composites have been fabricated through C2H2-pyrolysis by the reduction of microflower-like Zn(OH)(2)-Sb2O3 precursors. The as-formed ZnSb particles are uniformly dispersed in the synchronously formed continuous amorphous carbon matrix. Meanwhile, the flower-like morphology of the precursors has been maintained after the reducing process. As anodes for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries, the as-prepared ZnSb@C microflower composite anode exhibits a reversible capacity of 480.5 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) after 240 cycles for Li-ion batteries and a reversible capacity of 393.4 mA h g(-1) at 50 mA g(-1) after 240 cycles for Na-ion batteries, which are much better than those of the ZnSb-C particle composites. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to the special microflower-like and porous structure as well as the synchronously formed continuous amorphous carbon matrix.