Antimony-based materials as promising anodes for rechargeable lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries

Antimony (Sb) shows high conductivity and reactivity not only with lithium ions, but also with sodium ions due to its unique puckered layer structure; also, it can deliver a high theoretical capacity of 660 mA h g(-1) by forming Li3Sb or Na3Sb. Compared with graphite, Sb has much higher theoretical capacity and safer reaction potential; moreover, it has a simpler reaction process and smaller volume changes than Si, Ge and Sn. In this study, the recent progress of Sb-based materials including elemental Sb nano-structures, intermetallic Sb alloys and Sb chalcogenides for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries are introduced in detail along with their electrode mechanisms, synthesis, design strategies and electrochemical performance. This review aims to present a full scope of the structures and properties of Sb-based materials and highlight effective strategies to design high performance Sb-based anode materials in the field of rechargeable Li/Na ion batteries.