Coral-like NixCo1−xSe2 for Na-ion battery with ultralong cycle life and ultrahigh rate capability

Abstract

Storage technology of electrical energy with ultrafast charge/discharge rates is in high demand for future electronics and electric vehicles. Among them, sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have received much attention, however, the exploration of electrode materials with a high rate capacity and long cycle life still faces great challenges. In this work, we have fabricated coralloid Ni_xCo_1−xSe₂ with a hierarchical architecture for the first time, and it presents specific capacities of 321 mA h g⁻¹ after 2000 cycles at 2 A g⁻¹, corresponding to a capacity decay rate of 0.011% per-cycle, and 277 mA h g⁻¹ even at the high rate of 15 A g⁻¹, which could be attributed to the enhanced conductivity by Co-doping, the hierarchical architecture preventing the structure from collapsing or crushing, the accelerated electron transmission and the shortened diffusion distance of Na⁺. The extremely fast electron and Na ion transfer kinetics could be associated with the capacitive contribution. We further reveal the ultrastable and ultrahigh rate Na-ion storage mechanism through systematic analysis including compositional/structure evolution studies and comprehensive electrochemical characterizations. The presented strategy for the design and synthesis of coralloid, Co doped NiSe₂ with a hierarchical architecture could enlighten researchers on the development of electrodes with an ultralong cycle life and ultrahigh rate capability.