Embedding ZnS in N-doped-carbon frameworks decorated with Co4S3 nanoparticles for efficient sodium storage

Abstract Hybrid hierarchical architectures possess significant possibility in construction of anode materials for advanced sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, ZnS nanoparticles embedded in N-doped-carbon polyhedra and modified by Co4S3 nanoparticles (ZnS ⊂ N-C@Co4S3) with a hierarchical porous architecture, is designed using a self-assembly and associative sulfuration method. This ingenious nanoarchitecture frameworks possess several prominent merits. First, the N-doped-carbon skeleton as a scaffold for Co4S3 and ZnS can inhibit the agglomeration and buffer the volume expansion of the electrodes during cycling processes. Second, the abundant channels, rich interfaces and better conductivity for this architecture can benefit for the electrolyte permeation into the whole structure and shorten the diffusion pathway of the sodium ions. Impressively, the as-obtained hybrid frameworks deliver a stable capacity of 255.9 mAh g−1 in the 300th cycle at 2.0 A g−1, and superior rate capabilities when cycled at different currents. The enhanced sodium storage performance of this hierarchical multicomponent hybrid electrode indicates the importance of the advanced structure design with higher complexity for the energy storage.