Synthesis and Applications of Dimensional SnS2 and SnS2/Carbon Nanomaterials

Microflower Composites of Sulfide Nanosheets with 3D Boron Carbon-Nitrogen Compounds for High-Performance Microsupercapacitors

Boron carbon nitride (BCN) is very advantageous and attractive as an electrode material for supercapacitors, and 3D BCN has a higher ionic transport rate and superior electrochemical performance compared to 2D BCN. In this work, 3D BCN/SnS2 microflower composites were prepared by synthesizing precursors in a cost-effective way, followed by the uniform coating of SnS2 nanosheets on the surface of 3D BCN microspheres. The microflower composites exhibited superior electrochemical performance, achieving a specific capacitance of 729 F g-1 at 1 A g-1. The 3D BCN/SnS2 microflower composites were then applied as electrodes in microsupercapacitors (MSCs). It was found that the MSC had a good cycling stability; even after 10,000 cycles, it maintained a capacity retention rate of 87.7%. Additionally, the maximum power and energy densities of the MSC were 31.46 mW h cm-2 and 2525.32 mW cm-2, respectively. The above results indicate that 3D-BCN/SnS2 microflower composites have promising electrochemical properties and can be integrated into high-performance energy storage devices.

Solvent-Driven Na Storage in SnS2 Anodes: Atomistic Simulation-Guided Strategies for Reversible Reactions, Solid Electrolyte Interphase, and Morphological Transformation

Crystalline SnS2 accommodates Na ions through intercalation-conversion-alloying (ICA) reactions, exhibiting a natural potential for high energy storage, while its layered structure facilitates rapid charging. However, these intrinsic advantages are not fully realized in practical battery applications. Herein, utilizing an innovative integration of machine-learning-based thermodynamics, artificial-neural-network-assisted molecular dynamics, and density functional theory, specific solvents are demonstrated to effectively tailor the reaction pathways. This strategy not only steers phase transition pathways but also significantly reduces the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), which is a common issue in recent battery research. These characteristics of solvents enable reversible ICA reactions and also aid the transformation of microsized SnS2 particles into 3D porous nanostructures with minimal SEI formation. The performance of our Na-SnS2 half-cells achieve 1100 mAh g-1 (97% of the theoretical capacity) at 0.5 C, placing them among the top performers for Na storage. By moving beyond the traditional view of electrolyte solvents as a simple medium for ion transport, this work highlights the critical impact of solvent selection on enabling reversible reactions and morphological transformation of SnS2 anodes with minimal SEI formation and setting benchmarks for anode performance in energy storage systems based on ICA reactions.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of SnS2 under visible light irradiation: strategies and future perspectives

Tin(II) sulfide (SnS2) has emerged as a promising candidate for visible light photocatalytic materials. As a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, SnS2 features a band gap of approximately 2.20 eV and a layered structure, rendering it suitable for visible light activation with a high specific surface area. However, the application of SnS2 as a visible light photocatalyst still requires improvement, particularly in addressing the high recombination of electrons and holes, as well as the poor selectivity inherent in its perfect crystal structure. Therefore, ongoing research focuses on strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of SnS2. In this comprehensive review, we analyze recent advances and promising strategies for improving the photocatalytic performance of SnS2. Various successful approaches have been reported, including controlling the reactive facets of SnS2, inducing defects in the crystal structure, manipulating morphologies, depositing noble metals, and forming heterostructures. We provide a detailed understanding of these phenomena and the preparation techniques involved, as well as future considerations for exploring new science in SnS2 photocatalysis and optimizing performance.

Ion-Electron Transduction Layer of the SnS2-MoS2 Heterojunction to Elevate Superior Interface Stability for All-Solid Sodium-Ion Selective Electrode

The high selectivity and fast ion response of all-solid sodium ion selective electrodes were widely applied in human sweat analysis. However, the potential drift due to insufficient interfacial capacitance leads to the deterioration of its stability and ultimately affects the potential accuracy of ion analysis. Designing a novel ion-electron transduction layer between the electrode and the ion selective membrane is an effective method to stabilize the interfacial potential. Herein, the SnS2-MoS2 heterojunction material was constructed by doping Sn in MoS2 nanosheets and used as the ion electron transduction layers of an all-solid sodium ion selective electrode for the first time, achieving the stable and efficient detection of Na+ ions. The proposed electrode exhibited a Nernst slope of 57.86 mV/dec for the detection of Na+ ions with a detection limit of 10-5.7 M in the activity range of 10-6-10-1 M. Via the electronic interaction at the heterojunction interfaces between SnS2 and MoS2 materials, the micro-nanostructure of the SnS2-MoS2 heterojunction was changed and SnS2-MoS2 as the ion-electron transduction layer acquired excellent capacitance (699 μF) and hydrophobicity (132°), resulting in a long-term potential stability of 1.37 μV/h. It was further proved that the large capacitance and high hydrophobicity of the ion-electron transduction layer are primary reasons for the excellent stability of the all-solid sodium ion selective electrode toward Na+ ions.

Steam catalytic cracking and lump kinetics of naphtha to light olefins over nanocrystalline ZSM-5 zeolite

This study investigates the reaction pathways and kinetics to comprehend the catalytic cracking of dodecane, a heavy naphtha model compound, over the nanocrystalline ZSM-5 catalyst in the presence and absence of steam with the aim of increasing olefin production. The nanocrystalline zeolite was characterized using XRD and BET, and the surface acidity was measured by NH3-TPD and Py-FTIR. The steam treated ZSM-5 contributed to an increase in pore volume with extra-framework alumina, resulting in highly catalytic active sites and hence higher olefin selectivity. The high conversion of dodecane (>90%) was achieved during catalytic cracking in the presence and absence of steam. In the presence of steam, the short pores of nano ZSM-5 led to an increase in the naphtha-to-olefin conversion with lesser dry gas and coke formation. The activation energies of primary cracking in the presence and absence of steam were slightly different. Lower activation energies through secondary cracking routes and higher reaction rate constants were obtained via assisted-steam catalytic cracking, promoted the selectivity towards light olefin products. Meanwhile the hydrogenation and alkylation reactions toward LPG and C5+ were favored in the absence of steam. Moreover, the ZSM-5 nano zeolite pores promoted more β-scission reactions, resulting in higher selectivity towards ethylene and dry gas.