Preparations and Sodium Storage Properties of Ni₃S₂@CNT Composite

Authors

Ming-tao DUAN, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050;
Yan-shuang MENG, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050;Follow
Hong-shuai ZHANG, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050;

Corresponding Author

Yan-shuang MENG(mengyanshuang@163.com)

Abstract

Transition metal sulfides (TMSs)-based electrode materials with highly reversible sodium storage have attracted extensive attentions as one of the most prospective electrode materials for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). However, low cycling stability and rate property caused by large volume expansion and poor electronic conductivity during the electrochemical reaction still hamper their further practical application. In this work, in-situ encapsulated Ni₃S₂ nanoparticles in carbon nanotubes (Ni₃S₂@CNT) have been successfully fabricated as an anode material for high-performance SIBs by a one-step solid-phase calcination process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic discharge/charge experiments and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to characterize the morphology, phase structure and electrochemical performance of the Ni₃S₂@CNT material. When evaluated as an anode material for sodium ion batteries, the Ni₃S₂@CNT composite exhibited excellent rate performance (the discharge specific capacity reached 541.6 mAh·g -1 at a current density of 100 mA·g -1, the discharge specific capacity could maintain at 274.5 mAh·g -1, even at a large current density of 2000 mA·g -1) and good cycle stability (the discharge and charge specific capacities still maintained at 374.5 mAh·g -1 and 359.3 mAh·g -1, respectively, at a current density of 100 mA·g -1 after 120 cycles). Remarkable cycling performance and rate capability could attribute to the synergistic effect between Ni₃S₂ nanoparticles and this unique carbon nanotube structure. The nanoscale size of the Ni₃S₂ particles could reduce the Na-ions diffusion path as well as increase the contact area between the electrode and the electrolyte. More importantly, in-situ generated carbon nanotube structure not only helped to improve the electronic conductivity of materials, but also buffered the volume effect of Ni₃S₂ nanoparticles during discharge and charge cycling. At the same time, the smart structure designed and fabrication method reported here provide a new way for in-situ preparation of high-performacne host materials for SIBs, and other high-end energy storage and conversion applications in the future.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Ni3S2@CNT composite, anode material, high performance, sodium ion battery

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.200426

Publication Date

2020-12-28

Online Available Date

2020-06-24

Revised Date

2020-06-19

Received Date

2020-04-27

Recommended Citation

Ming-tao DUAN, Yan-shuang MENG, Hong-shuai ZHANG. Preparations and Sodium Storage Properties of Ni₃S₂@CNT Composite[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2020 , 26(6): 850-858.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.200426
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol26/iss6/2

References

[1] Kim H, Kim H, Ding Z , et al. Recent progress in electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries[J]. Advanced Energy Materials, 2016,6(19):1600943.

[2] Chayambuka, Mulder G, Danilov D L, et al. Sodium-ion battery materials and electrochemical properties reviewed[J]. Advanced Energy Materials, 2018,8(16):1800079.

[3] Kim J, Choi M S, Shin K H , et al. Rational design of carbon nanomaterials for electrochemical sodium storage and capture[J]. Advanced Materials, 2019,31(34):1803444.

[4] Pu X J, Wang H M, Zhao D , et al. Recent progress in rechargeable sodium-ion batteries: toward high-power applications[J]. Small, 2019,15(32):1805427.

[5] Qian J F( 钱江锋), Gao X P( 高学平), Yang H X( 杨汉西 ). Electrochemical Na-storage materials and their applications for Na-ion batteries[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry( 电化学), 2013,19(6):523-529.

[6] Wang L G, Wang J, Guo F , et al. Understanding the initial irreversibility of metal sulfides for sodium-ion batteries via operando techniques[J]. Nano Energy, 2018,43:184-191.

[7] Zhu Y J, Wen Y, Fan X L , et al. Red phosphorus-single-walled carbon nanotube composite as a superior anode for sodium ion batteries[J]. ACS Nano, 2015,9(3):3254-3264.

[8] Hou H, Jing M J, Yang Y C , et al. Sb porous hollow microspheres as advanced anode materials for sodium-ion batteries[J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2015,3(6):2971-2977.

[9] Hou H S, Qiu X, Wei W F , et al. Carbon anode materials for advanced sodium-ion batteries[J]. Advanced Energy Materials, 2017,7(24):1602898.

[10] Wang T, Su D W, Shanmukaraj D , et al. Electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries: considerations on crystal structures and sodium storage mechanisms[J]. Electroche mical Energy Reviews, 2018,1(2):200-237.

[11] Deng J, Gong Q, Ye H L , et al. Rational synjournal and assembly of Ni₃S₄ nanorods for enhanced electrochemical sodium-ion storage[J]. ACS Nano, 2018,12(2):1829-1836.

[12] Wang Z D, Song W, Yan W , et al. Ni₃S₂/Ni@S/C composite: Facile synjournal and high performance as the anode for Na-ion batteries[J]. Materials Letters, 2019,238:81-84.

[13] Wu Z G, Zhong Y J, Li J T , et al. l-histidine-assisted template-free hydrothermal synjournal of α-Fe₂O₃ porous multi-shelled hollow spheres with enhanced lithium storage properties[J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2014,2(31):12361-12367.

[14] Han Y, Liu S Y, Cui L , et al. Graphene-immobilized flower-like Ni₃S₂ nanoflakes as a stable binder-free anode material for sodium-ion batteries[J]. International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, Materials, 2018, 25(1): 88-93.

[15] Li J, Li J, Yan D , et al. Design of pomegranate-like clusters with NiS₂ nanoparticles anchored on nitrogen-doped porous carbon for improved sodium ion storage performance[J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2018,6(15):6595-6605.

[16] Chen Q, Sun S, Zhai T , et al. Yolk-shell NiS₂ nanoparticle-embedded carbon fibers for flexible fiber-shaped sodium battery[J]. Advanced Energy Materials, 2018,8(19):1800054.

[17] Chang X Q, Ma Y, Yang M , et al. In-situ solid-state growth of N, S codoped carbon nanotubes encapsulating metal sulfides for high-efficient-stable sodium ion storage[J]. Energy Storage Materials, 2019,23:358-366.

[18] Danks A E, Hall S R, Schnepp Z . The evolution of 'sol-gel' chemistry as a technique for materials synjournal[J]. Materials Horizons, 2016,3:91-112.

[19] Wang Y, Kong D Z, Shi W H , et al. Ice templated free-standing hierarchically WS₂/CNT-rGO aerogel for high-performance rechargeable lithium and sodium ion batteries[J]. Advanced Energy Materials, 2016,6(21):1601057.

[20] Lin H L, Liu F, Wang X J , et al. Graphene-coupled flower-like Ni₃S₂ for a free-standing 3D aerogel with an ultra-high electrochemical capacity[J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2016,191:705-715.

[21] Sainbileg B, Lan Y B, Wang J K , et al. Deciphering anomalous raman features of regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene) in ordered aggregation form[J]. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2018,122(8):4224-4231.

[22] LI Z Q, Gong F, Zhou G , et al. NiS₂/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for efficient dye sensitized solar cells[J]. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2013,117(13):6561-6566.

[23] Li J B, Li J L, Ding Z B , et al. In-situ encapsulation of Ni₃S₂ nanoparticles into N-doped interconnected carbon networks for efficient lithium storage[J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2019,378:122108.

[24] Gao G, Zhang Q, Cheng X B , et al. Ultrafine ferroferric oxide nanoparticles embedded into mesoporous carbon nanotubes for lithium ion batteries[J]. Scientific Reports, 2015,5:17553.

[25] Song X S, Li X F, Bai Z M , et al. Morphology-dependent performance of nanostructured Ni₃S₂/Ni anode electrodes for high performance sodium ion batteries[J]. Nano Energy, 2016,26:533-540.

[26] Qin W, Chen T Q, Lu T , et al. Layered nickel sulfide-reduced graphene oxide composites synthesized via microwave-assisted method as high performance anode materials of sodium-ion batteries[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2016,302:202-209.

[27] Qu B H, Ma C Z, Ji G , et al. Layered SnS₂-reduced graphene oxide composite — a high-capacity, high-rate, and long-cycle life sodium-ion battery anode material[J]. Advanced Materials, 2014,26(23):3854-3859.

[28] Wang J, Liu J L, Yang H , et al. MoS₂ nanosheets decorated Ni₃S₂@MoS₂ coaxial nanofibers: constructing an ideal heterostructure for enhanced Na-ion storage[J]. Nano Energy, 2016,20:1-10.

[29] Shuang W, Huang H, Kong L J , et al. Nitrogen-doped carbon shell-confined Ni₃S₂ composite nanosheets derived from Ni-MOF for high performance sodium-ion battery anodes[J]. Nano Energy, 2019,62:154-163.

[30] Shang C Q, Dong S M, Zhang S L , et al. A Ni₃S₂-PEDOT monolithic electrode for sodium batteries[J]. Electrochemistry Communications, 2015,50:24-27.

[31] Zhang Z J, Zhao H L, Xia Q , et al. High performance Ni₃S₂/Ni film with three dimensional porous architecture as binder-free anode for lithium ion batteries[J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2016,211:761-767.

[32] Hang T, Mukoyama D, Nara H , et al. Electrochemical impedance analysis of electrodeposited Si-O-C composite thick film on Cu microcones-arrayed current collector for lithium ion battery anode[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2014,256:226-232.