Porous pyrrhotite FeS nanowire/SiO/nitrogen-doped carbon matrix for high-performance Li-ion-battery anodes.

Iron sulfides, known as attractive anode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, have been extensively studied. Nevertheless, low electrical conductivity and huge volume expansion of iron sulfides hinder its practical applications. Herein, a novel method was developed to synthesize ternary porous FeS nanowires/SiO/nitrogen-doped carbon matrix by facile hydrothermal method and subsequent sulfidation derived from bamboo leaves. The SiO/nitrogen-doped carbon matrix can ensure the growth of nanowires, maintain the structural stability, improve the conductivity and provide improved capacity of FeS. The 3D matrix structure and porous properties of FeS nanowires effectively relieve the volume change upon the insertion/extraction of Li. The FeS/SiO/nitrogen-doped carbon anode exhibited a superior discharge capacity of 1060.2 mA h g at 200 mA g along with good long cycling performance of 415.8 mA h g at the 1000th cycle at 5 A g. The facile strategy for preparing ternary FeS composites with superb LIB electrochemical performances demonstrates a great potential in electrochemical energy storage.