Micro-flower-like MoS_(2)-modified Co_(9)S_(8)heterostructure as anode material for sodium-ion batteries with superior reversibility and rate capacity

Designing and fabricating of heterostructured materials with long-term cycling stability and high-rate capacity for the anode of sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)still remain a great challenge.Herein,micro-flower-like MoS_(2)-modified Co_(9)S_(8)(Co_(9)S_(8)/MoS_(2))with a three-dimensional(3D)heterostructure was first obtained via a simple solvothermal synthesis followed by a solid sulfidation treatment process.As a material for the anode of SIBs,the Co_(9)S_(8)/MoS_(2)-based electrode with an initial Co/Mo molar ratio of 1/1(denoted as CM55-S)exhibits the best sodium storage performance with a boosted capacity,superior reversibility(424.5 mAh g^(-1)@2 A g^(-1)at the 1600th cycle,401.1 mAh g^(-1)@5 A g^(-1)at the 800th cycle),and an excellent rate capacity(210.1 mAh g^(-1)@20 A g^(-1)).Density functional theory(DFT)calculations confirm that the Co_(9)S_(8)/MoS_(2)heterostructure has a lower energy barrier(0.30 eV)than the pure Co_(9)S_(8)(0.53 eV).It is expected that such a heterostructured material could be an attractive candidate as the material of the anode for SIBs.