High rate capability and superior cycle stability of a flower-like Sb2S3 anode for high-capacity sodium ion batteriesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Electrochemical characterization, XRD patterns of all samples, BET curve of flower-like Sb2S3 and SEM of comparable sample of Sb2S3. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05242k

• Main Authors: Zhu, Yaoyao, Nie, Ping, Shen, Laifa, Dong, Shengyang, Sheng, Qi, Li, Hongsen, Luo, Haifeng, Zhang, Xiaogang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 05.02.2015
• ISSN: 2040-3364; 2040-3372
• DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05242k

Flower-like antimony sulfide structures were prepared by a simple and easy polyol reflux process. When tested as an anode for sodium ion batteries, the material delivered a high reversible capacity of 835.3 mA h g −1 at 50 mA g −1 after 50 cycles and maintained a capacity of 641.7 mA h g −1 at 200 mA g −1 after 100 cycles. Even up to 2000 mA g −1 , a capacity of 553.1 mA h g −1 was obtained, indicating an excellent cycle performance and a superior rate capability. The mechanism of the formation of the micro-flowers was also investigated. The additive used facilitates the controlled release of the reactant to form uniform, shaped nanosheets and an optimum reaction time allows the nanosheets to self-assemble into micro-flowers. Sb 2 S 3 nanosheets self-assembled into flower-like structures showed a high rate capability and superior cyclability when used as electrode materials for Na ion batteries.