New rationally designed hybrid polypyrrole@SnCoS4 as an efficient anode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

In the current study, the impact of two different substrates was investigated on the improvement in capacities. SnCoS₄ nanoparticles were coated on polypyrrole nanotubes (PNT) and pyrolyzed polypyrrole nanotubes (P-PNT) using the facile hydrothermal method. Both anode materials were electrochemically compared to pure nanoparticles in the lithium-ion half-cell. The results of electrochemical analysis introduced the P-PNT–SnCoS₄ as an optimum structure with a reversible capacity of 784 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹ after 200 cycles. This finely-crystallized nanoparticle supported by carbonaceous polypyrrole nanotubes still maintained its capacity (424 mA h g⁻¹) at a higher current density of 4 A g⁻¹, which shows the efficient synergistic contribution of the substrate to buffering the volume changes in Sn-based anodes. We can conclude that binary metal sulfides supported by 3D polymer-based substrates have great potential for application as promising anode materials in future lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).