Metal phosphosulfides (MPSs) are members of a category of emerging energy storage and conversion materials, particularly having significant potentials in lithium storage due to their phosphorus and sulfur dual anion centers and unique two-dimensional channels. Nevertheless, it is still very challenging for the controllable design and synthesis of MPSs nanomaterials with complex-element components. Herein, a distinctive carbon confined mesoporous catkin-like SnPS3 nanostructure (SnPS3@C) is controllably synthesized and fabricated based on the partial volatilization of the reduced tin and the following bottom-up phosphosulfuration by a chemical vapor deposition method. As the anode material of lithium ion batteries, the catkin-like SnPS3@C offers multiple active centers for lithium insertion, complete carbon shell to protect inner active materials, interlaced fibrous networks for efficient electron transfer as well as abundant inner mesopores for Li+ diffusion and volume buffer, thus showing prominent structure advantages in lithium storage. The catkin-like SnPS3@C electrode demonstrated superior electrochemical capability with a very high reversible capacity (1302 mAh g–1 at 300 mA g–1), excellent rate property (630 mAh g–1 at 8000 mA g–1) and distinguished cycling stability (1030 mAh g–1 after 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g–1). This work offers a new avenue to develop high-performance MPSs materials for advanced lithium ion batteries.

The development of low-cost and high-efficiency catalysts is very important to promote carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). Metal phosphides (MPs) are promising catalysts for CO2 reduction because of their excellent electrical conductivity, good stability, high activity and selectivity. In this review, we summarize the latest progress of MPs in CO2RR from chemocatalysis, electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, and discuss in detail their advantages and catalytic mechanism. In the end, we provide some potential challenges and inspiring outlooks to serve as guidance for future research and practical applications of MPs in catalytic CO2 reduction.