ZnS-rGO/CNF Free-Standing Anodes for SIBs: Improved Electrochemical Performance at High C-Rate.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Conti, Debora Maria Fusaro, Cristina Bruni, Giovanna Galinetto, Pietro Albini, Benedetta Milanese, Chiara Berbenni, Vittorio Capsoni, Doretta
Editor	Lian, Jiabiao
Copyright Year	2023
Abstract	ZnS–graphene composites (ZnSGO) were synthesized by a hydrothermal process and loaded onto carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by electrospinning (ZnS–GO/CNF), to obtain self-standing anodes for SIBs. The characterization techniques (XRPD, SEM, TEM, EDS, TGA, and Raman spectroscopy) confirm that the ZnS nanocrystals (10 nm) with sphalerite structure covered by the graphene sheets were successfully synthesized. In the ZnS–GO/CNF anodes, the active material is homogeneously dispersed in the CNFs’ matrix and the ordered carbon source mainly resides in the graphene component. Two self-standing ZnS–GO/CNF anodes (active material amount: 11.3 and 24.9 wt%) were electrochemically tested and compared to a tape-casted ZnS–GO example prepared by conventional methods (active material amount: 70 wt%). The results demonstrate improved specific capacity at high C-rate for the free-standing anodes compared to the tape-casted example (69.93 and 92.59 mAh g−1 at 5 C for 11.3 and 24.9 wt% free-standing anodes, respectively, vs. 50 mAh g−1 for tape-casted). The 24.9 wt% ZnS–GO/CNF anode gives the best cycling performances: we obtained capacities of 255–400 mAh g−1 for 200 cycles and coulombic efficiencies ≥ 99% at 0.5 C, and of 80–90 mAh g−1 for additional 50 cycles at 5 C. The results suggest that self-standing electrodes with improved electrochemical performances at high C-rates can be prepared by a feasible and simple strategy: ex situ synthesis of the active material and addition to the carbon precursor for electrospinning.
Journal	Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
Volume Number	13
PubMed Central reference number	PMC10097268
Issue Number	7
PubMed reference number	37049252
e-ISSN	20794991
DOI	10.3390/nano13071160
Language	English
Publisher	MDPI
Publisher Date	2023-03-24
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). © 2023 by the authors.
Subject Keyword	electrospinning carbon nanofibers zinc sulfides anode sodium-ion batteries self-standing anodes binder-free anodes
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Chemical Engineering Materials Science