Electrochemical performance of aluminum niobium oxide as anode for lithium-ion batteries

AlNbO₄, as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) anode, has a high theoretical capacity of 291.5 mAh·g⁻¹. Here, AlNbO₄ anode materials were synthesized through a simple solid-state method. The structure, morphology and electrochemical performances of AlNbO₄ anode were systematically investigated. The results show that AlNbO₄ is monoclinic with C2/m space group. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations reveal the AlNbO₄ particles with the size of 100 nm–2 μm. As a lithium-ion batteries anode, AlNbO₄ delivers a high reversible capacity and good rate capability. The discharge capacity is as high as 151.0 mAh·g⁻¹ after 50 charge and discharge cycles at 0.1C corresponding to capacity retention of 90.7 %. When the current density increases to 5.0C, AlNbO₄ anode displays reversible discharge capacity of 73.6 mAh·g⁻¹ at the 50th cycle.