Amorphous codoped SnS/CNTs nanocomposite with improved capacity retention as an advanced sodium-ion battery anode

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2020-09, Vol.31 (17), p.14521-14530
• Main Authors: Qayyum, Ahmed A., Khan, Zuhair S., Ashraf, Sheeraz, Ahmed, Nisar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodes; Carbon nanotubes; Cauliflowers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Charge transfer; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electrode materials; Materials Science; Nanocomposites; Optical and Electronic Materials; Rechargeable batteries; Sodium-ion batteries
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-020-04012-3

Tin-based chalcogenides are considered as a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries yet they suffer from poor electronic conductivity, initial coulombic efficiency and capacity retention. Herein, using facile solvothermal route, cauliflower-like SnS/CNTs and codoped SnS/CNTs nanocomposites were synthesized. Heteroatom dopants in codoped SnS/CNTs create an amorphous structure which provides sufficient space to release volumetric strains induced during sodiation/desodiation, resulting in superior capacity retention and initial coulombic efficiency of 44% as compared to 39.4% for SnS/CNTs and 36% for SnS. Carbon nanotubes create a framework by connecting cauliflower-like SnS together and at 0.1 A g −1 , it delivers a reversible capacity of 183.3 mAh g −1 after 50 cycles in SnS/CNTs, which is more than twice as high as is delivered by pure SnS, and also with a very small resistance to charge transfer. Therefore, these novel nanocomposites provide a robust platform for application in sodium-ion batteries.