Litchi-like structured MnCo2S4@C as a high capacity and long-cycling time anode for lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2021-04, Vol.376, p.138035, Article 138035
• Main Authors: Yan, Wengang, Liang, Kaili, Chi, Zongtao, Liu, Tao, Cao, Minghui, Fan, Shuangqing, Xu, Ting, Liu, Tong, Su, Jie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkali metals; Commercialization; Cycles; Electrical resistivity; Energy storage; Energy storage materials; Ion storage; Litchi-like structured; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Materials selection; Metal sulfides; Polycrystalline nature; Rechargeable batteries; Storage batteries; Sulfidation; Surface stability; TMSs; Transition metals
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.138035

•The litchi-like structured MnCo2S4@C electrodes have been prepared by the solvothermal method coupled with the sulfidation strategy.•The large surface area can provide more reactive sites and accelerate the lithium-ions rapid diffusion.•The carbon shell can absorb the polysulfide and inhibit the shuttle effect of polysulfide.•The polycrystalline MnCo2S4@C can improve the stability of the structure and alleviate the volume change,•The MnCo2S4@C electrodes show a capacity of 1093.7 mAh g−1 over 500 cycles at 3 A g−1 for LIBs. Ternary transition metal sulfides have been regarded as the most potential candidate material for energy storage due to their high electrical conductivity, high thermodynamic stability, high theoretical capacity and numerous surface redox chemistries. However, its drastic volume change and severe capacity loss caused by the shuttle effect hinder potential commercialized practical applications. Herein, litchi-like structured MnCo2S4@C have been prepared via a solvothermal method coupled with the sulfidation strategy. Benefiting from the novel litchi-like structure, the MnCo2S4@C electrodes exhibit good lithium-ion storage performance with the capacity of 1648.8 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1, rate capability of 508.2 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 and long time cycling stability with the capacity of 1093.7 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 3 A g−1. Our designed litchi-like structured MnCo2S4@C can be envisaged to accelerate progress towards advanced alkali metal ion batteries with significant implications for grid-scale energy storage field. [Display omitted] The litchi-like structured MnCo2S4@C electrodes shows a capacity of 1093.7 mAh g−1 over 500 cycles at 3 A g−1 for LIBs.