Core-shell NiS2@C encased by thin carbon layer as high-rate and durable electrode for aqueous rechargeable battery

Cuihua An; Shuai Wu; Lingxiao Gao; Liyang Lin; Qibo Deng; Ning Hu

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.01.136

Core-shell NiS₂@C encased by thin carbon layer as high-rate and durable electrode for aqueous rechargeable battery

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2023 May 15:638:274-280. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.01.136. Epub 2023 Feb 1.

Authors

Cuihua An¹, Shuai Wu¹, Lingxiao Gao¹, Liyang Lin², Qibo Deng³, Ning Hu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Hebei Province on Scale-span Intelligent Equipment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Power Transmission and Safety Technology for New Energy Vehicles, and School of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China.
² The Green Aerotechnics Research Institute of Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 401120, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Hebei Province on Scale-span Intelligent Equipment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Power Transmission and Safety Technology for New Energy Vehicles, and School of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; The Green Aerotechnics Research Institute of Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 401120, China. Electronic address: qibodeng@hebut.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Hebei Province on Scale-span Intelligent Equipment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Power Transmission and Safety Technology for New Energy Vehicles, and School of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.

PMID: 36738550
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.01.136

Abstract

Nickel sulfides, as promising candidate for aqueous rechargeable battery, have aroused broad attention on account of abundant natural resources, rich phases, moderate price and high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, tremendous volume expansion during repeated charging-discharging procedure leads to the poor rate capability and cycling stability of nickel sulfide electrodes. Therefore, in this work, core-shell NiS₂@C encapsulated by thin hydrothermal carbon (HC) layer (NiS₂@C/HC) has been designed and prepared without any surfactants or templates assistance, which avoid tedious process and shorten preparation cycle greatly. When matched with the treated iron powder (TIP) electrode to form NiS₂@C/HC//TIP aqueous rechargeable battery, the NiS₂@C/HC//TIP battery exhibits a high discharge capacity of 205.1 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1, remarkable rate ability (176.4 mAh g^-1 at 5 A g^-1, about 86% capacity conversation) and superiorly durable stability (80.8 % capacity retention after 10,000 cycles at ultra-high current density of 15 A g^-1). The outstanding high-rate capability and cycling stability for aqueous rechargeable battery can be ascribed to the distinct cowpea-like architecture and intrinsic properties of NiS₂@C/HC. Specifically, the interior porous carbon provides a space to tolerate the volume expansion of the NiS₂ nanoparticles and prevent NiS₂ nanoparticles from aggregation, guaranteeing its high-rate capability. Meanwhile, the exterior HC layer is conducive to improve the electric conductivity to facilitate the electrons transfer and promote the mechanical strength of the whole active materials, ensuring its robust cycling stability.

Keywords: Aqueous rechargeable battery; Core-shell structured materials; Cycling stability; NiS(2)@C; Rate capability.

MeSH terms

Body Fluids*
Carbon
Electric Conductivity
Electric Power Supplies
Electrodes

Substances

Carbon