Amorphous MoS 3 -Coated ZnS Heterostructure with Interface-Enhanced Kinetics for Fast and Durable Sodium Storage via Multistep Reaction Pathways

The growing demand for advanced sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) necessitates the development of high-rate and durable anode materials. However, conventional ZnS-based anodes often suffer from sluggish ion transport kinetics and structural instability during cycling. Herein, a hierarchical ZnS/MoS3 composite with a carbon matrix (ZSCM) was synthesized through a MOF-derived carbonization–sulfurization route followed by an amorphous MoS3 surface modification. This unique architecture combines a conductive 3D carbon framework, abundant heterointerfaces, and multiphase synergy, which significantly enhance charge transport and interfacial reaction kinetics. As a result, the ZSCM anode delivers a high reversible capacity of 559.3 mAh·g–1 at 0.1 A·g–1 and maintains 370.8 mAh·g–1 even at 10 A·g–1. Structural and spectroscopic analyses reveal a multistep sodium storage mechanism involving the irreversible conversion and partial alloying of ZnS, along with the stepwise reduction and partial reoxidation of MoS3. Moreover, the ZnS/MoS3 heterointerface induces a built-in electric field due to interfacial work function differences, which facilitates charge redistribution and accelerates ion/electron migration. The assembled full cell with Na3V2(PO4)3 as the cathode further confirms the practical applicability of this design. This work offers mechanistic insights and an effective strategy for constructing ZnS-based anodes toward high-performance, multistep sodium storage.