Sb ₂ S ₃ @YP Nanostructured Anode Material Synthesized by a Novel Vaporization-Condensation Method for Long Cycle-Life Sodium-Ion Battery

Sb ₂ S ₃ is recognized as a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries because of its low toxicity and high theoretical capacity of 946 mAh g ⁻¹ . However, it usually suffers from a severe capacity decay during the charge/discharge processes mainly caused by their inferior electronic conductivities and large volume change. Currently, the preparation of Sb ₂ S ₃ -based anode materials is limited to conventional hydrothermal (solvothermal) or solution methods. In this study, a novel vaporization-condensation method is successfully employed to prepare nanocomposites between Sb ₂ S ₃ and active carbon (YP80F carbon). During the vaporization-condensation process, Sb ₂ S ₃ can be reformed and confined within the nanopores of YP80F carbon, obtaining surprising high performance anode materials (Sb ₂ S ₃ @YP samples) for Na-ion batteries. the nanopores of carbon can accommodate the large volume of Sb ₂ S ₃ variation during charge/discharge process and enable a fast electron/Na-ion transfer. One of these Sb ₂ S ₃ @YP samples delivers a high capacity of 799.5 mAh g ⁻¹ at 1162 mA g ⁻¹ , and maintains at 476.5 mAh g ⁻¹ after 1000 cycles (based on the mass of Sb ₂ S ₃ ). In addition, this vaporization-condensation method provides a significant strategy for preparing Sb ₂ S ₃ -based anode materials for long cycle-life sodium-ion batteries.