Synthesis of hollow spherical tin phosphides (Sn4P3) and their high adsorptive and electrochemical performance

Sn₄P₃ hollow spherical microstructures are successfully synthesized by a facile Solvothermal approach with the help of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Further study show that EDTA plays an important role as chelating and capping reagent in the formation of Sn₄P₃ hollow microspheres at room temperature. The research displays that the as-prepared Sn₄P₃ catalysts could absorb some typical organic dyes such as Methylene Blue, Safranine T and Methyl Orange, especially the adsorption ratio for some could reach to 99%. Meanwhile, as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the initial discharge capacity of the as-prepared Sn₄P₃ hollow microspheres exceed 1478 mA h g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 and it still keeps at 261mA h g^-1 after 20 cycles. Even the current density is increased to 500 mA g^-1, the second discharge capacity still can attain to 689 mA h g^-1.