A novel and fast method to prepare a Cu-supported α-Sb2S3@CuSbS2 binder-free electrode for sodium-ion batteries. Issue 49 (11th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Jing; Dou, Qirui; Zhang, Lijuan; Wang, Yingyu; Yuan, Hao; Chen, Jiangchun; Cao, Yu
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 10:Issue 49(2020)
• Page Start: 29567
• Page End: 29574
• Publication Date: 2020-08-11
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ra05623e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Antimony sulfide (Sb2 S3 ) is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its low cost and high theoretical specific capacity. Abstract : Antimony sulfide (Sb2 S3 ) is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its low cost and high theoretical specific capacity. However, poor stability and a complex preparation process limit its large-scale application. Herein, we prepare a binder-free composite electrode composed of amorphous (α-) Sb2 S3 and copper antimony sulfide (CuSbS2 ) through a simple closed-space sublimation (CSS) method. When applied as the anode in sodium-ion batteries, the α-Sb2 S3 @CuSbS2 electrode exhibits excellent performance with a high discharge capacity of 506.7 mA h g −1 at a current density of 50 mA g −1 after 50 cycles. The satisfactory electrochemical performance could be ascribed to the α-Sb2 S3 –CuSbS2 composite structure and binder-free electrode architecture, which not only retain the structural stability of the electrode but also improve the electrical conductivity. Consequently, CSS, as a scalable and environmentally friendly method, can produce a binder-free electrode in just a few minutes, demonstrating its great potential in the industrial production of sodium-ion batteries. This study may open an avenue to preparing binder-free commercial electrodes.