Ternary CoPSe in-situ grown in cubic hollow carbon nanobox achieves high-rate and long-life lithium/sodium storage

Single-phase ternary CoPSe nanoparticles with the diameter of 50-120 nm are grown inside cubic hollow carbon nanobox (C nanobox). The content of CoPSe is 86.96%. Atomic hybridization of Se and P induces different physicochemical properties. The small particle size of CoPSe enhances the reaction kinetics. The C nanobox improves the electronic conductivity of CoPSe and effectively lock CoPSe. Abundant void space inside C nanobox facilitates electrolyte storage, promotes ion diffusion, and accommodates volume change of CoPSe. These merits result in high specific capacity, superior long-term cycling performance and rate capability for lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries. In lithium-ion batteries, [email protected] nanobox can deliver discharge capacity of 1131 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and 315 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 after 200 cycles. In sodium-ion batteries, it exhibits discharge capacity of 504 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and 193 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 after 500 cycles.