One-dimensional core–shell motif nanowires with chemically-bonded transition metal sulfide-carbon heterostructures for efficient sodium-ion storage

Abstract

Herein, a chemical-vapor deposition-like strategy was developed for the synthesis of versatile core–shell transition metal sulfide (TMS)@carbon nanowires with chemically-bonded heterostructures and significantly improved electrochemical performance. The morphological evolution observations revealed the simultaneous growth of TMS nanowires and their bonding with an ultrathin carbon layer. The resulting core–shell heterostructured nanowires possessed notable advantages, including fast ion/electron diffusion rates, improved conductivity, and chemical/mechanical stability, thereby leading to remarkable reversible capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability for Na-ion storage applications. The in situ transmission electron microscopy and in situ X-ray diffraction studies for FeS@C demonstrated the crystalline phase evolution between hexagonal and tetragonal FeS species during the electrochemical charging/discharging process, clearly indicating the excellent Na-ion storage performance of FeS@C nanowires. This work provides a new methodology for achieving 1D core–shell nanoarchitectures, while elucidating the electrochemical reaction mechanism underlying Na-ion storage in TMS materials.