Rational Engineering of p-n Heterogeneous ZnS/SnO Quantum Dots with Fast Ion Kinetics for Superior Li/Na-Ion Battery.

Constructing heterogeneous nanostructures is an efficient strategy to improve the electrical and ionic conductivity of metal chalcogenide-based anodes. Herein, ZnS/SnO quantum dots (QDs) as p-n heterojunctions that are uniformly anchored to reduced graphene oxides (ZnS-SnO @rGO) are designed and engineered. Combining the merits of fast electron transport via the internal electric field and a greatly shortened Li/Na ion diffusion pathway in the ZnS/SnO QDs (3-5 nm), along with the excellent electrical conductivity and good structural stability provided by the rGO matrix, the ZnS-SnO @rGO anode exhibits enhanced electronic and ionic conductivity, which can be proved by both experiments and theoretical calculations.

Preparation of ZnS@N-doped-carbon composites a ZnS-amine precursor vacuum pyrolysis route.

ZnS/carbon nanocomposites have potential electrochemical applications due to their improved conductivity and more active sites through modification of the carbon materials. Herein, we report a facile method to synthesize the nanocomposites comprising ZnS nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped carbon (ZnS@NC). The inorganic-organic hybrid ZnS-amine material ZnS(ba) (ba = -butylamine) is synthesized on a large scale by a reflux method, which effectively shortens the reaction time while maintaining the high yield compared with the solvothermal method.