VS₄ Nanorods Anchored Graphene Aerogel as a Conductive Agent-Free Electrode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

High-performance electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) attract extensive attention. Metal sulfides are considered as promising candidates due to their large interlayer spacing and high theoretical capacity. Herein, a 3D VS4/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogel is designed and synthesized via a convenient hydrothermal method. VS4 nanorods are tightly anchored to the rGO sheets. The rGO addition promises good conductivity, and no additional conductive agents are required for the electrode fabrication. As an anode material for LIBs, VS4/rGO demonstrates high specific capacity (551 mA h g–1 at 1 A g–1 after 800 cycles) and capable rate performance (541 mA h g–1 at 2 A g–1). The capacitive behavior occupies an important position of the lithium ion storage (65% at 1 mV s–1). The kinetic parameters indicate that the unique structure of the material is beneficial to the electrolyte infiltration and provides short pathways for lithium ion diffusion, resulting in good electrochemical performance. This work shows that VS4/rGO aerogel is a promising electrode material for LIBs.