A simple synthesis of VSe2/B4C@HCG composite as high-performance anodes for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) arouse researchers’ interest gradually because of the scarcity of lithium sources. VSe ₂ is one of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) equipped with a huge interlayer distance to accommodate more Na ⁺ ions, but the problems such as agglomeration, volume deformation, dissolution loss and so on hinder its further development. Therefore, a VSe ₂/B ₄C@HCG composite was fabricated by the simple high-energy ball milling method. The B ₄C and VSe ₂ nanoparticles are mixed and restrict each other, then anchor on the graphene, which alleviates agglomeration and volume deformation of VSe ₂ during cycling processes effectively, and improves the overall environmental stability and conductivity. As a result, the VSe ₂/B ₄C@HCG composite delivers a reversible capacity of 407.5 mAh g ⁻¹ with the coulombic efficiency of 98.5% after 450 cycles, superior rate performance of 524.2, 476.3, 413.7, 353.7, and 295.3 mAh g ⁻¹ at the different current density of 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mA g ⁻¹, and ultrastable long-term cycling property of 251.6 mAh g ⁻¹ at the current density of 1 A g ⁻¹ after 1000 cycles, indicating the VSe ₂/B ₄ C@HCG composite shows utilization potentiality to be used as an excellent anode material for SIBs.