Binder-free and self-supported reduced graphene oxide coated Cu2SnS3/Carbon nanofibers for superior lithium storage

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 842; p. 155619
• Main Authors: Chen, Xin, Lin, Jie, Chen, Yanli, Zhang, Jie, Jiang, Heng, Qiu, Fangyuan, Chu, Ruixia, Guo, Hang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 25.11.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Carbon fibers; Carbon nanofiber; Coated electrodes; Copper sulfides; Copper tin sulfide; Energy storage; Gelation; Graphene; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Nanofibers; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Rechargeable batteries; Reduced graphene oxide; Self-supported; Carbon nanofiber; Lithium-ion batteries; Self-supported; Reduced graphene oxide; Copper tin sulfide
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.155619

To utilize the nanomaterials that could be mass manufactured for energy storage, a self-supported reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated Cu2SnS3 (CTS)/carbon nanofiber (CNF) electrode is fabricated by the facile gelation-solvothermal-electrodeposition method, and applied in lithium-ion batteries without a binder or conductive agent. Compared with the CTS microtubes synthesized from their complex template, the CTS nanoparticles in the rGO@CTS/CNF film are anchored on the CNF surface and surrounded by the conformal rGO with varying spacings. The whole self-supported rGO@CTS/CNF electrode (including the CNF and rGO) delivers an initial capacity of 678.8 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, and retains at 464.2 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles, which is superior to those of the pristine CTS microtubes and the uncoated CTS/CNF electrodes. [Display omitted] •The binder-free and self-supported CNF network, and rGO coated rGO@CTS composite.•The unique CTS microtubes are synthesized through the gelation-solvothermal process.•This work presents the carbon/CTS/carbon sandwich-structure electrode.