The synthesis of FeCoS 2 and an insight into its physicochemical performance

• Published in: CrystEngComm 2018, Vol.20 (15), p.2175-2182
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yongjie, Liu, Jialin, Ding, Caihua, Wang, Chengzhi, Zhai, Ximei, Li, Jingbo, Jin, Haibo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1466-8033; 1466-8033
• DOI: 10.1039/C8CE00299A

In this work, FeCoS 2 was synthesised via a modulated hydrothermal method. With the hydrothermal temperature being increased, the microstructure of the as-obtained FeCoS 2 evolved from the initial ultrathin nanosheets to the final microspheres, which were also assembled from these nanosheets. Meanwhile, X-ray diffraction results illustrated that the degree of the [101] preferred orientation was gradually reduced with increasing hydrothermal temperature. When being evaluated as a photocatalyst toward the photodegradation of methylene blue, FeCoS 2 presented itself as a promising candidate for the photocatalytic degradation. When the as-obtained FeCoS 2 was tested as an anode material for Na-ion batteries, it could deliver a first discharge capacity of 806 mA h g −1 at 50 mA g −1 . In addition, the magnetic properties of the temperature-dependent FeCoS 2 products were also investigated, demonstrating that FeCoS 2 nanosheets obtained at 170 °C exhibited the most evident ferromagnetic characteristics. The current research illustrates FeCoS 2 's potential for diverse applications in modern materials science and devices.