Multiwalled carbon nanotube@a-C@Co₉S₈ nanocomposites: a high-capacity and long-life anode material for advanced lithium ion batteries

A one-dimensional MWCNT@a-C@Co₉S₈ nanocomposite has been prepared via a facile solvothermal reaction followed by a calcination process. The amorphous carbon layer between Co₉S₈ and MWCNT acts as a linker to increase the loading of sulfides on MWCNT. When evaluated as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the MWCNT@a-C@Co₉S₈ nanocomposite shows the advantages of high capacity and long life, superior to Co₉S₈ nanoparticles and MWCNT@Co₉S₈ nanocomposites. The reversible capacity could be retained at 662 mA h g⁻¹ after 120 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹. The efficient synthesis and excellent performances of this nanocomposite offer numerous opportunities for other sulfides as a new anode for lithium ion batteries.