Hierarchical Microboxes Constructed by SnS Nanoplates Coated with Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Efficient Sodium Storage

Abstract

The design and synthesis of hierarchical microboxes, assembled from SnS nanoplates coated with nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries, is demonstrated. The template-engaged multistep synthesis of the SnS@NC microboxes involves sequential phase transformation, polydopamine coating, and thermal annealing in N₂ . The SnS@NC composite with two-dimensional nano-sized subunits rationally integrates several advantages including shortening the diffusion path of electrons/Na⁺ ions, improving electric conductivity, and alleviating volume variation of the electrode material. As a result, the SnS@NC microboxes show efficient sodium storage performance with high capacity, good cycling stability, and excellent rate capability.

Keywords: SnS; hollow structures; microboxes; nitrogen-doped carbon; sodium-ion batteries.