Sb nanoparticles encapsulated in 3D porous carbon as anode material for lithium-ion and potassium-ion batteries
Highlights: • The Sb nanoparticle completely embedded in 3D porous carbon (Sb@PC) was synthesized. • This novel 3D structure contribute to relieve the intense volume expansion while ensure the integrity of the structure. • As Li-ion and K-ion batteries anode materials, which both showed excellent electrochemical performance. - Abstract: In the current research project, we have synthesized a novel Sb/Carbon nanocomposite with 3D porous structure which is successfully applied to the Li/K-ion batteries as anode materials. The unique structure shows the homogeneous Sb nanoparticles embedded into a 3D porous carbon (Sb@PC), relieving the intense volume expansion of inner Sb alloying and contributing to the integrity of the structure. As anode materials of Li-ion and K-ion batteries, they both showed an excellent electrochemical performance.