Nanotube assembled coral-like ZnS@N, S co-doped carbon: A sodium-ion batteries anode material with outstanding stability and rate performance

Abstract Developing advanced Na-host anode materials to enhance the stability and rate performance of Sodium Ion Batteries (SIBs) is the premises for their commercialization. Herein, we report a template method to prepare coral-like ZnS embedding in N, S co-doped carbon (ZnS@NSC) as an anode material for SIBs. The heteroatom doped carbon endows the materials with high conductivity and structure stability. The nanotube structure provides high specific area and adequate space for the volume expansion during charge/discharge process. The coral-like structure can further increase the mass transport. Therefore, the merits of the materials are fully utilized and thus outstanding sodium storage performances are achieved. To the best of our knowledge, the ZnS@NSC-800 shows the best rate performance (417.1 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and cycling stability (98.4% capacity was retained after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1) to date. Combining with the high capacity, facile and convenient method, and the usage of low-cost and nontoxic raw materials, the material exhibits great potential for SIBs.