Rational design of heterostructured core–shell Co‐Zn bimetallic selenides for improved sodium‐ion storage

Abstract Bimetallic selenide with core–shell structure (CoSe 2 /ZnSe/NC@ZnSe/NC) has been successfully prepared through facile carbonization and selenization processes of its core–shell metal–organic framework precursors, in which the precursor is synthesized by epitaxial growth of zinc‐based zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF‐8) on the surface of cobalt‐based and zinc‐based zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8). The core–shell structure has the advantage of alleviating the volume expansion during repeated insertion and extraction of sodium ions which can effectively avoid structural collapse. Additionally, bimetallic selenides and heterostructure are effective strategies to greatly improve the rate capability of the material. Therefore, the core–shell structural CoSe 2 /ZnSe/NC@ZnSe/NC material can maintain the original dodecahedron structure and delivers a specific capacity of 308.6 mAh·g −1 at 1.0 A·g −1 after 300 cycles with the desirable capacity retention of 90%. With the synergistic effects of heterostructure and core–shell structure, CoSe 2 /ZnSe/NC@ZnSe/NC exhibits better electrochemical performance than CoSe 2 /ZnSe/NC and CoSe 2 /NC. These prove that both core–shell structure and heterostructure have positive effects on improving the electrochemical properties of materials.