Biological carbon skeleton of lotus-pollen surrounded by rod-like Sb2S3 as anode material in lithium ion battery

The novel Sb2S3/lotus-pollen composites are fabricated for the first time in the literature through hydrothermal method followed by calcination treatment. As an anode material in lithium ion batteries, the Sb2S3/lotus-pollen composites deliver an initial discharge capacity of 988 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) and maintain a capacity of 591 mA h g(-1) after 100 cycles. Even up to 1000 and 2000 mA g(-1), the Sb2S3/lotus-pollen composites still obtain capacity of 436 and 365 mA h g(-1), respectively, indicating a good rate capability. Compared with pure Sb2S3, the enhanced electrochemical performance of Sb2S3/lotus-pollen may be ascribed to the improved electron conductivity and volume buffering effect provided by the biological carbon skeleton of lotus-pollen. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.