SnS@C nanoparticles anchored on graphene oxide as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Graphitization of tincone via molecular layer deposition: investigating sulfur's role and structural impacts

This study investigated the synthesis of sp2 carbons using molecular layer deposition (MLD) with tincone, which utilized tetrakis(dimethylamido)tin (TDMASn) as the metal precursor and 4-mercaptophenol (4MP) as the organic linker. Tincone films were deposited at 100 °C without impurities and then subjected to vacuum post-annealing in a tube furnace to induce graphitization. Compositional and structural analyses revealed significant changes as the annealing temperature increased, including the breakdown of the bonds between Sn, O, S, and C. This process led to the reduction of Sn, O, and S and the formation of sp2 carbons. At 400 °C, the film thickness was reduced by 57.5%, and the refractive index increased from 1.8 to 1.97, as confirmed by the emergence of G-band and 2D-band peaks in the Raman spectra. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the residual Sn content decreased to 0.75% at 600 °C. Interestingly, at temperatures above 400 °C, unique behavior was observed: increased C-S bonding disrupted the graphite structure due to the thiol (-SH) groups in 4MP. This disruption led to a reduction in C-C bonding and a decrease in the G-band peak in the Raman spectra. This study provides the first detailed investigation of the role of S in the graphitization of tincone, highlighting its impact on sp2 carbon formation and emphasizing the importance of the careful selection of precursors and linkers in MLD processes.

Unleashing the Power of Sn2S3 Quantum Dots: Advancing Ultrafast and Ultrastable Sodium/Potassium-Ion Batteries with N, S Co-Doped Carbon Fiber Network

Tin sulfide (Sn2S3) has been recognized as a potential anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to its high theoretical capacities. However, the sluggish ion diffusion kinetics, low conductivity, and severe volume changes during cycling have limited its practical application. In this study, Sn2S3 quantum dots (QDs) (≈1.6 nm) homogeneously embedded in an N, S co-doped carbon fiber network (Sn2S3-CFN) are successfully fabricated by sequential freeze-drying, carbonization, and sulfidation strategies. As anode materials, the Sn2S3-CFN delivers high reversible capacities and excellent rate capability (300.0 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1 and 250.0 mAh g-1 at 20 A g-1 for SIBs; 165.3 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 and 100.0 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1 for PIBs) and superior long-life cycling capability (279.6 mAh g-1 after 10 000 cycles at 5 A g-1 for SIBs; 166.3 mAh g-1 after 5 000 cycles at 2 A g-1 for PIBs). According to experimental analysis and theoretical calculations, the exceptional performance of the Sn2S3-CFN composite can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the conductive carbon fiber network and the Sn2S3 quantum dots, which contribute to the structural stability, reversible electrochemical reactions, and superior electron transportation and ions diffusion.

Graphene oxide–lithium-ion batteries: inauguration of an era in energy storage technology

A significant driving force behind the brisk research on rechargeable batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) in high-performance applications, is the development of portable devices and electric vehicles. Carbon-based materials, which have finite specific capacity, make up the anodes of LiBs. Many attempts are being made to produce novel nanostructured composite anode materials for LiBs that display cycle stability that is superior to that of graphite using graphene oxide. Therefore, using significant amounts of waste graphene oxide from used LiBs represents a fantastic opportunity to engage in waste management and circular economy. This review outlines recent studies, developments and the current advancement of graphene oxide-based LiBs, including preparation of graphene oxide and utilization in LiBs, particularly from the perspective of energy storage technology, which has drawn more and more attention to creating high-performance electrode systems.

Electrochemical Nanosensor for the Simultaneous Determination of Anticancer Drugs Epirubicin and Topotecan Using UiO-66-NH2/GO Nanocomposite Modified Electrode

In this work, UiO-66-NH2/GO nanocomposite was prepared using a simple solvothermal technique, and its structure and morphology were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). An enhanced electrochemical sensor for the detection of epirubicin (EP) was proposed, which utilized a UiO-66-NH2/GO nanocomposite-modified screen-printed graphite electrode (UiO-66-NH2/GO/SPGE). The prepared UiO-66-NH2/GO nanocomposite improved the electrochemical performance of the SPGE towards the redox reaction of EP. Under optimized experimental conditions, this sensor demonstrates a remarkable limit of detection (LOD) of 0.003 µM and a linear dynamic range from 0.008 to 200.0 µM, providing a highly capable platform for sensing EP. Furthermore, the simultaneous electro-catalytic oxidation of EP and topotecan (TP) was investigated at the UiO-66-NH2/GO/SPGE surface utilizing differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). DPV measurements revealed the presence of two distinct oxidation peaks of EP and TP, with a peak potential separation of 200 mV. Finally, the UiO-66-NH2/GO/SPGE sensor was successfully utilized for the quantitative analysis of EP and TP in pharmaceutical injection, yielding highly satisfactory results.

Trimetallic sulfides coated with N-doped carbon nanorods as superior anode for lithium-ion batteries

Metal sulfides have been considered promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to their high capacity. However, the poor cycle stability induced by the sluggish kinetics and poor structural stability hampers their practical application in LIBs. In this work, MoS2/MnS/SnS trimetallic sulfides heterostructure coated with N-doped carbon nanorods (MMSS@NC) is designed through a simple method involving co-precipitation, metal chelate-assisted reaction, and in-situ sulfurization method. In such designed MMSS@NC, a synergetic effect of heterojunctions and carbon layer is simultaneously constructed, which can significantly improve ionic and electronic diffusion kinetics, as well as maintain the structural stability of MMSS@NC during the repeated lithiation/delithiation process. When applied as anode materials for LIBs, the MMSS@NC composite shows superior long-term cycle performance (1145.0 mAh/g after 1100 cycles at 1.0 A/g), as well as excellent rate performance (565.3 mAh/g at 5.0 A/g). This work provides a unique strategy for the construction of multiple metal sulfide anodes for high-performance LIBs.