In situ carbon-coating and Ostwald ripening-based route for hollow Ni3S4@C spheres with superior Li-ion storage performances†
Abstract
Uniform hollow carbon-coated polydymite (Ni3S4) microspheres were synthesized in a solution via an in situ carbon-coating and Ostwald ripening-based route. The thin carbon coating layer and the hollow core enhanced the electrochemical performance of Ni3S4 as a Li-ion battery anode. At a current density of 0.1C (about 100 mA g−1), they exhibited an extremely high reversible capacity of about 1003 mA h g−1. These polydymite-based composites also displayed a long stable cycling performance and a high capacity retention, with a reversible capacity of 480 mA h g−1 at 1C rate and a capacity retention of about 83% after 500 cycles.