PHOSPHORUS-CARBON COMPOSITES AS BATTERY ANODE MATERIALS

1 . An electrochemical device comprising an anode comprising a phosphorus-carbon composite comprising a conductive carbon matrix and nano-sized phosphorus particles, wherein:

the nano-sized phosphorus particles comprise black phosphorus, red phosphorus, white phosphorus, violet phosphorus, or any combination thereof;

the nano-sized phosphorus particles are uniformly dispersed on the surface and/or pores of the carbon matrix; and

the carbon matrix comprises:

one or more of graphite, graphene, expanded graphite, reduced graphene oxide, acetylene black, carbon black, a metal-organic framework, porous carbon, carbon spheres, or carbon aerogel; and

one or more of single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotube arrays, polypyrrole, or polyaniline.

2 . The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device is a sodium-ion battery.

3 . The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device is a zinc-ion battery.

4 . The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device is a calcium-ion battery.

5 . The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device is a magnesium-ion battery.

6 . The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device is an aluminum-ion battery.

7 . The electrochemical device of claim 2 , wherein the sodium-ion battery further comprises a cathode, a separator and a non-aqueous electrolyte.

8 . The electrochemical device of claim 7 , wherein the cathode comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a cathode active material, a current collector, a conductive carbon material, and a binder.

9 . An anode comprising a phosphorus-carbon composite comprising a conductive carbon matrix and nano-sized phosphorus particles, wherein:

the nano-sized phosphorus particles comprise black phosphorus, red phosphorus, white phosphorus, violet phosphorus, or any combination thereof;

the nano-sized phosphorus particles are uniformly dispersed on the surface and/or pores of the carbon matrix and

the carbon matrix comprises:

one or more of graphite, graphene, expanded graphite, reduced graphene oxide, acetylene black, carbon black, a metal-organic framework, porous carbon, carbon spheres, and carbon aerogel; and

one or more of single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotube arrays, polypyrrole, and polyaniline.

10 . The anode of claim 9 , further comprising a current collector, a conductive agent, a binder, or any combination thereof.

11 . A phosphorus-carbon composite comprising a conductive carbon matrix and nano-sized phosphorus particles, wherein:

the nano-sized phosphorus particles comprise black phosphorus, red phosphorus, white phosphorus, violet phosphorus, or any combination thereof;

the nano-sized phosphorus particles are uniformly dispersed on the surface and/or pores of the carbon matrix; and

the carbon matrix comprises:

one or more of graphite, graphene, expanded graphite, reduced graphene oxide, acetylene black, carbon black, a metal-organic framework, porous carbon, carbon spheres, or carbon aerogel; and

one or more of single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotube arrays, polypyrrole, or polyaniline.

12 . The phosphorus-carbon composite of claim 11 , wherein the nano-sized phosphorus particles comprise red phosphorus, black phosphorus, or a combination thereof.

13 . The phosphorus-carbon composite of claim 11 , wherein the nano-sized phosphorus particles have a particle size of about 1 nm to about 200 nm.

14 . The phosphorus-carbon composite of claim 11 having a carbon matrix content of about 1% to about 70% by weight of the composite.

15 . The phosphorus-carbon composite of claim 11 having a phosphorus content of about 0.1% to about 99.9% by weight of the composite.

16 . A method to prepare the phosphorus-carbon composite of claim 11 , the method comprising ball milling a mixture comprising two or more precursors for the conductive carbon matrix; and phosphorus.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the phosphorus is red phosphorus, black phosphorus, or a combination thereof.