Antimony and carbon dual-doped hollow ZnS-Sb/C nanospheres for enhanced sodium storage performance and its full battery application

Currently, it is very necessary to find novel and practical anode materials for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) in energy research. Herein, utilizing the template of ZnS, hollow ZnS-Sb/C nanospheres were synthesized via a cation exchange reaction between Zn2+ and Sbx+ ions and annealing process. When applied as anode for SIBs, the ZnS-Sb/C nanospheres deliver an ultra-high reversible capacity of 747 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 150 cycles, excellent cycling and rate performance. Additionally, the assembled Na3V2(PO4)3||ZnS-Sb/C full battery also exhibits good electrochemical performance. Combining the advantages of ZnS and metal Sb, the ZnS-Sb/C nanospheres can largely increase the battery capacity and maintain the phase stability, meanwhile hollow structure provides high specific surface area and carbon layer contributes stable support and excellent conductivity. All the rational design can synergistically provide buffer for the volume expansion during the Na+ intercalation/de-intercalation. Moreover, the high contribution of pseudocapacitance behavior contributes to the superior rate capability and long-term cycling stability. Therefore, ZnS-Sb/C nanospheres will provide a promising strategy for enhancing the performance of SIBs for practical industrialization.