Nanostructured transition metal phosphide as negative electrode for lithium-ion batteries

In the Li-ion technology, the diffusion of Li in the electrode is often limited by the quality of interfaces. Two synthetic approaches are proposed to develop the transition metal phosphides (TMP)/electrolyte interface. The first route consists in the preparation of nickel nanopowder by solution phase synthesis, and the second is based on the electrochemical synthesis of nickel nanorods in a template followed by vaporization of phosphorous. In the former, the nanosized metallic particles are foreseen to be used as starting nanomaterial to directly react with phosphorous agents (P or Li₃P) during the cycling of the lithium battery. A preliminary electrochemical test of the NiP _x nanorods/Li half-cell shows the feasibility of the use of such nanostructured TMP electrode in a Li battery.