Interfacial engineering enables Bi2S3@N-doped carbon nanospheres towards high performance anode for lithium-ion batteries

Bi2S3 is investigated as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity. However, the poor rate performance and fast capacity decay induced by the huge volume change during the lithiation/delithiation process, which seriously hinder the practical application in LIBs. Herein, Bi2S3@N-doped carbon (Bi2S3@NC) nanospheres with strong Bi-C covalent bond are constructed and application in LIBs, which exhibit outstanding rate performance and excellent long-term cycling stability. The high conductivity of N-doped carbon layer and strong Bi-C covalent bond can significantly enhance the electrochemical kinetics, as well as maintain the structural stability during cycling process. Benefiting from these advantages, the Bi2S3@NC nanospheres provide excellent rate performance (412 mA h g(-1) at 5.0 A g(-1)), and outstanding long-term cycling stability (a high reversible capacity of 510 mA h g(-1) is achieved after 1000 cycles at 1.0 A g(-1)). Furthermore, the assembled Bi2S3@NC//LiFePO4@C full cell delivers high capacity of 341 mA h g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1), and outstanding cycle performance (206 mA h g(-1) after 200 cycles), demonstrating great potential for practical application in high performance LIBs. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.