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

Graphitic carbon-coated ZnPS₃ 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 ZnPS₃ bulk to 100-500 nm and yields the ≈5 nm thick graphitic carbon coated ZnPS₃ nanoparticles, which are the nanocomposites of 5 nm sized nanocrystallites embedded in the amorphous matrix. The ZnPS₃ 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 ZnPS₃ 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 ZnPS₃ 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.