Hollow Sb93Pt7 Nanospheres Prepared by Galvanic Displacement Reaction for a Highly Li Reactive Material

The synthesis of hollow ${Sb_93}{Pt_7}$ nanospheres smaller than 30 nm with a shell consisting of smaller nanoparticles, with an average particle size of ${\sim}$ 3 nm is reported. The formation of this alloy is driven by galvanic replacement reaction involving Sb nanoparticles and ${H_2}{PtCl_6} $ without need for any additional reductants. Further, the reaction proceeds selectively as long as the redox potential between two metals is favorable. The capacities of the hollow samples are 669 and 587mAh/g at rates of 1 and 7C, respectively, while those values for the nanoparticles are 647 and 480mAh/g at rates of 1, 7C, respectively. This result shows the significantly improved capacity retention of the hollow sample at higher C rates, indicating that high surface area of the hollow nanospheres makes the current density more effective than that for the solid counterpart.