Facile Synthesis of ZnS/N,S Co-doped Carbon Composite from Zinc Metal Complex for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

ZnS coated on N,S co-doped carbon (ZnS/NSC) composite has been prepared utilizing zinc pyrithione (C 10 H 8 N 2 O 2 S 2 Zn) as raw material via calcination. Through activation using Na 2 CO 3 salt, ZnS nanoparticles encapsulated in NSC (denoted as A-ZnS/NSC) with mixed-crystal structure has also been obtained, which reveals much larger specific surface area and more bridges between ZnS and NSC. Based on the existence of bridges (C–S–Zn and S–O–Zn bonds) and the modification of carbon from N,S co-doping, the A-ZnS/NSC composite as an anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) displays significantly enhanced electrochemical performances with a high reversible specific capacity of 516.6 mA h g –1 (at 100 mA g –1 ), outstanding cycling stability (96.9% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 100 mA g –1 ), and high rate behavior (364.9 mA h g –1 even at 800 mA g –1 ).