In-Situ Templating Growth of Homeostatic GeP Nano-Bar Corals with Fast Electron-Ion Transportation Pathways for High Performance Li-ion Batteries.

We propose an in situ template method to directionally induce the construction of germanium phosphide nanobar (GeP-nb) corals with an adjustable aspect ratio. The GeP nanobars grown onto conductive matrix with high aspect ratio expose more quickest electron-ion transportation facets for fast reaction dynamics. The customized GeP-nb electrode delivers a self-healable homeostatic behavior by reversibly stabilizing GeP crystalline structure through multi-phase reactions to maintain structural integrity and cycling stability (850 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 500 cycles). As a result, the GeP-nb presents the highest Li+ diffusion coefficient (6.21×10-11  cm2  s-1 ) among all the Ge-based anode materials studied so far, rendering an excellent rate performance (620 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 ) as a lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode.