A General Strategy to Fabricate Carbon‐Coated 3D Porous Interconnected Metal Sulfides: Case Study of SnS/C Nanocomposite for High‐Performance Lithium and Sodium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Transition metal sulfides have a great potential for energy storage due to the pronouncedly higher capacity (owing to conversion to metal or even alloy) than traditional insertion electrode materials. However, the poor cycling stability still limits the development and application in lithium and sodium ion batteries. Here, taking SnS as a model material, a novel general strategy is proposed to fabricate a 3D porous interconnected metal sulfide/carbon nanocomposite by the electrostatic spray deposition technique without adding any expensive carbonaceous materials such as graphene or carbon nanotube. In this way, small nanorods of SnS are generated with sizes of ≈10–20 nm embedded in amorphous carbon and self‐assembled into a 3D porous interconnected nanocomposite. The SnS:C is directly deposited on the Ti foil as a current collector and neither conductive additives nor binder are needed for battery assembly. Such electrodes exhibit a high reversible capacity, high rate capability, and long cycling stability for both lithium and sodium storage.

In Situ Construction of 3D Interconnected FeS@Fe3C@Graphitic Carbon Networks for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Batteries

“…[24][25][26][27] Dispersing active materials into a 3D carbon matrix [24][25][26][27] Dispersing active materials into a 3D carbon matrix…”

Recent Advances in Sodium-Ion Battery Materials

“…An ultralong worm-like MoS 2 was also reported by Xu et al (Figure 9a, e) [196]. Tin-based sulfides (SnS [197][198][199][200]) and SnS 2 [201,202]) and antimony sulfide (Sb 2 S 3 [203][204][205][206][207]) have attracted considerable attention due to the conversion/alloying reactions, in which Sn and Sb can alloy with Na + to show electrochemical reactivity. Cao and co-workers have reported SnS@ reduced graphene oxide composites with SnS nanoparticles anchored on the surface of graphene, and the composites exhibited a reversible capacity of 457 mAh g −1 with stable cycle life [208].…”

Alloy‐Based Anode Materials toward Advanced Sodium‐Ion Batteries

“…[56][57][58][59][60][61] Inspired by the advantages of 3D porous structure, Zhu et al introduced a 3D porous interconnected metal sulfide/ carbon nanocomposite, in which, small nanorods of SnS (10-20 nm) were embedded in the amorphous carbon, which then self-assembled into a 3D porous interconnected nanocomposite, delivering the first discharge and charge capacity of 523 and 415 mA h g −1 , respectively. [56][57][58][59][60][61] Inspired by the advantages of 3D porous structure, Zhu et al introduced a 3D porous interconnected metal sulfide/ carbon nanocomposite, in which, small nanorods of SnS (10-20 nm) were embedded in the amorphous carbon, which then self-assembled into a 3D porous interconnected nanocomposite, delivering the first discharge and charge capacity of 523 and 415 mA h g −1 , respectively.…”