Conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS coated Co_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles as the anode for sodium-ion battery applications

Metal oxides are considered as potential anodes for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs).Nevertheless,they suffer from poor cycling and rate capability.Here,we investigate conductive polymer coating on Co_(3)O_(4)nanoparticles varying with different percentages.X-ray diffraction,electron microscopy and surface chemical analysis were adopted to analyze coated and uncoated Co_(3)O_(4)nanoparticles.Conducting polymer,poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)polystyrene sulfonate(PEDOT:PSS),has been utilized for coating.Improved specific capacity and rate capability for an optimal coating of 0.5 wt.%were observed.The 0.5 wt.%coated sample outperformed the uncoated one in terms of capacity,rate capability and coulombic efficiency.It delivered a reversible capacity of 561 mAh·g^(−1)at 100 mA·g^(−1)and maintained a capacity of 318 mAh·g^(−1)at a high rate of 1 A·g^(−1).Increasing the PEDOT:PSS coating percentage led to lower performance due to the thicker coating induced kinetic issues.Ex-situ analysis of the 0.5 wt.%coated sample after 100 cycles at 1 A·g^(−1)was characterized for performance correlation.Such a simple,cost-effective and wet-chemical approach has not been employed before for Co_(3)O_(4)as the SIB anode.