Sustainable synthesis of metal compound/carbon composites via coordination chemistry for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Metal compound/carbon (MC/C) composites are one of the key materials for advancing energy storage, catalysis, sensing and other technologies, yet their synthesis is hampered by complex and inefficient methods that compromise the carbon/non-carbon interface compatibility. This study introduces a strategy for synthesizing MC/C composites, leveraging coordination chemistry between chitosan and metal ions to enhance interfacial interactions and achieve uniform multi-phase interfaces. During the one-step heat treatment process of chitosan-based coordination polymers, metal compound nanoparticles can be formed in situ within a carbon matrix, thereby eliminating the need for environmentally harmful precursors and overcoming the issue of low reaction efficiency caused by traditional solid-state mixing techniques. The as-synthesized typical Ni₃S₂/C composite exhibits high reversible capacity (1434 mA h g⁻¹, 250 cycles at 0.05 A g⁻¹), and superior rate capability (capacity retention exceeds 41% with a 40-fold enhancement of current density) when used as the anode of lithium-ion batteries. This general and scalable synthesis strategy for MC/C composites opens new avenues for the development of high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, offering a pathway to green, sustainable and cost-effective energy storage solutions.