A novel binary metal sulfide hybrid Li-ion battery anode: Three-dimensional ZnCo2S4/NiCo2S4 derived from metal-organic foams enables an improved electron transfer and ion diffusion performance

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 817; p. 153293
• Main Authors: Zhang, Haikuo, Liu, Jinyun, Lin, Xirong, Han, Tianli, Cheng, Mengying, Long, Jiawei, Li, Jinjin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.03.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anodes; Binary metal sulfides; Cloth; Density functional theory; Density functional theory calculations; Electrochemical analysis; Electron transfer; Energy storage; Foamed metals; Ion diffusion; Lithium-ion batteries; Metal organic foams; Metal oxides; Nickel compounds; Secondary batteries; Storage batteries; Zinc; Metal organic foams; Secondary batteries; Binary metal sulfides; Density functional theory calculations
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.153293

Many binary metal oxides possess poor conductivity and ion diffusion efficiency, even though they have a high theoretical capacity as secondary battery anodes. Herein, we present a double binary metal sulfide composing of ZnCo2S4/NiCo2S4 growing on carbon cloth, which was derived from a Zn–Co–Ni metal organic foam. Compared to the ZnCo2O4/NiCo2O4, the ZnCo2S4/NiCo2S4 anodes exhibit an obviously improved electrochemical performance including a high areal capacity of 2.4 mAh cm−2 after cycling for 100 times at 0.36 mA cm−2, and a Coulombic efficiency of 99.9%. A well-recoverable rate-performance is also presented. In addition, the enhancement mechanism is investigated by using density functional theory simulations, which show the density of states and Li ion diffusion energies of the ZnCo2S4/NiCo2S4 are improved compared to ZnCo2O4/NiCo2O4. It is expected that the high-performance hybrid and the theoretical enhancement mechanism would enable them to find important applications for developing emerging energy-storage materials. A fast electron-transfer and ion-diffusion binary metal sulfide hybrid anode consisting of ZnCo2S4/NiCo2S4 derived from MOFs was presented. [Display omitted] •A novel binary metal sulfide hybrid is reported.•Binary metal sulfides derived from MOFs are achieved.•Sulfide hybrid anodes exhibit a high lithium-storage performance.•DFT simulations confirm improvement of electron and ion transportation.