Synthesis of Graphitic Carbon Coated ZnPS3 and its Superior Electrochemical Properties for Lithium and Sodium Ion Storage

Abstract Graphitic carbon‐coated ZnPS 3 is prepared via direct phosphosulfurization and high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and first introduced as an anode for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). The HEMM process with MWCNTs reduces the particle size of as‐synthesized ZnPS 3 bulk to 100–500 nm and yields the ≈5 nm thick graphitic carbon coated ZnPS 3 nanoparticles, which are the nanocomposites of 5 nm sized nanocrystallites embedded in the amorphous matrix. The ZnPS 3 electrode undergoes the combined conversion and alloying reactions with Li and Na ions and exhibits high initial discharge and charge capacities in both LIBs and SIBs. The graphitic carbon‐coated ZnPS 3 electrode exhibits excellent high‐rate capability and long‐term cyclability. The superior electrochemical properties can be attributed to high electrical conductivity, high Li ion mobility, and high reversibility and structural stability derived from the graphitic carbon‐coated nanoparticles. This study demonstrates that the novel graphitic carbon‐coated ZnPS 3 is a promising anode material for both LIBs and SIBs and the graphitic carbon coating methodology by HEMM is expected to apply to the various metal oxides, sulfides, and phosphides.