Optimized Tungsten Disulfide via Pyrolytic Deposition for Improved Zn‐Ion Batteries

Abstract The selection and optimization of cathode materials are crucial for enhancing the performance of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. In this work, different active materials were created by combining Sulfur powder and polydopamine in four different mass ratios. The novel N‐doped carbon/WS₂ is obtained. Thanks to the optimization of the dopamine‐carrying tungsten ion precursor and Sulfur powder (1 : 2, 1 : 4, 1 : 6 and 1 : 8), the four samples exhibited different morphology. The N−C/WS₂‐6‐based zinc ion batteries with the highest specific capacity, 120.0 mAh/g in the first discharge at 2.0 A/g, and 78.0 mAh/g after 2500 cycles, with a capacity retention of 65 %, had a relatively good overall performance, according to the results. The reaction kinetics characteristics of the N−C/WS₂‐6 cathode reveal that diffusion has a significant impact on the processes in the aqueous zinc ionic material N−C/WS₂‐6.