Construction of VS2/VOx Heterostructure via Hydrolysis-Oxidation Coupling Reaction with Superior Sodium Storage Properties

Heterostructure engineering is one of the most promising modification strategies for reinforcing Na+ storage of transition metal sulfides. Herein, based on the spontaneous hydrolysis-oxidation coupling reaction of transition metal sulfides in aqueous media, a VOx layer is induced and formed on the surface of VS2, realizing tight combination of VS2 and VOx at the nanoscale and constructing homologous VS2/VOx heterostructure. Benefiting from the built-in electric field at the heterointerfaces, high chemical stability of VOx, and high electrical conductivity of VS2, the obtained VS2/VOx electrode exhibits superior cycling stability and rate properties. In particular, the VS2/VOx anode shows a high capacity of 878.2 mAh g(-1) after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g(-1). It also exhibits long cycling life (721.6 mAh g(-1) capacity retained after 1000 cycles at 2 A g(-1)) and ultrahigh rate property (up to 654.8 mAh g(-1) at 10 A g(-1)). Density functional theory calculations show that the formation of heterostructures reduces the activation energy for Na+ migration and increases the electrical conductivity of the material, which accelerates the ion/electron transfer and improves the reaction kinetics of the VS2/VOx electrode.