A Self-Sacrifice Template Method to Produce FeS Encapsulated into N, S Co-Doped Carbon for Improved Lithium Storage Performance

doi:10.1007/s40195-025-01883-5

Abstract

Abstract:

The development of high-performance transition metal sulfide (TMS)/carbon composites to replace conventional graphite anode remains a critical challenge for advancing lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, a facile self-sacrifice template method is developed to prepare FeS encapsulated into N, S co-doped carbon (FeS/NSC) composite using melamine-cyanuric acid (MCA) supermolecule as a multifunctional template precursor. The function of MCA supermolecule for material synthesis is explored, revealing its special function as a dispersant, dopant and pore-forming agent. Furthermore, the effect of Fe source dosage on the morphology, structure and composition of the final products is explored. The resultant FeS/NSC-0.1 (where 0.1 represents the mass of added Fe source) exhibits the most optimal proportion, characterized by a good dispersion status of FeS within the NSC matrix, effective N, S co-doping and ample porosity. Benefiting from these merits, the FeS/NSC-0.1 anode demonstrates significantly improved cycling stability and rate capability when compared to the counterparts. Undoubtedly, this work offers a universal method to produce advanced transition metal sulfide/carbon composite electrodes for energy storage and conversion systems.

Key words: Lithium-ion batteries, Lithium storage performance, Self-sacrifice template method, Melamine-cyanuric acid (MCA) supermolecule, FeS encapsulated into N, S co-doped carbon (FeS/NSC) composite

Xu Liu, Lan-Yun Yang, Li-Ting Zeng, Yun Peng, Chen-Xi Xu, Lei Li, Jia-Le Sun, Yang-Yang Chen, Liang Chen, Zhao-Hui Hou. A Self-Sacrifice Template Method to Produce FeS Encapsulated into N, S Co-Doped Carbon for Improved Lithium Storage Performance[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2025, 38(9): 1637-1644.

Figures/Tables 4

Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of the preparation of FeS/NSC-0.1 composite

Fig. 2 SEM images of FeS/NSC-0.05 a, FeS/NSC-0.1 b and FeS/NSC-0.2 c; TEM d and magnified TEM e images of FeS/NSC-0.1 (inset is HRTEM image); EDX pattern f, scanning TEM image g and elemental maps h-l of FeS/NSC-0.1

Fig. 3 XRD patterns a, Raman spectra b, XPS survey spectra c and Fe 2p spectra d of different samples; high-resolution Fe 2p spectra e, S 2p spectra f, N 1s spectra g of FeS/NSC-0.1 sample; N2 adsorption/desorption isothermal curves h and pore distribution curves i of different samples

Fig. 4 CV curves of FeS/NSC-0.1 electrode a; cycling performance b and rate performance c of different electrodes; the corresponding linear relationship between log(i) and log(v) d; contribution ratios of the capacitive and diffusion-controlled capacity versus scan rate for FeS/NSC-0.1 electrode e; Nyquist plots of different electrodes after five cycles f

References 42

[1]	K.C. Chen, Y. Ding, L.M. Yang, Z.H. Wang, H.X. Yu, D.F. Fang, Y.F. Feng, L.Y. Hu, C.X. Xu, P.H. Shao, X.B. Luo, L. Chen, Resour. Conserv. Recyl. 201, 107326 (2024)
[2]	D.Q. Li, F.L. Chu, Z.J. He, Y. Cheng, F.X. Wu, Mater. Today 58, 80 (2022)
[3]	Y.G. Zhang, H. Xu, P.J. Li, W. Li, H.W. Yue, H. Li, L.J. Wu, W.J. Fa, Q. Yu, Q. Guo, Ionics 30, 1329 (2024)
[4]	T. Lu, S.M. Dong, C.J. Zhang, L.X. Zhang, G.L. Cui, Coord. Chem. Rev. 332, 75 (2017)
[5]	Z. Li, W. Wang, M.J. Zhou, B.H. He, W.Q. Ren, L. Chen, W.Y. Xu, Z.H. Hou, Y.Y. Chen, J. Energy Chem. 54, 310 (2021)
[6]	P. Zhou, P. Xiao, L. Pang, Z. Jiang, M. Hao, Y. Li, F.X. Wu, Adv. Funct. Mater. 35, 2406579 (2024)
[7]	X.Y. Yu, L. Yu, X.W. Lou, Adv. Energy Mater. 6, 1501333 (2016)
[8]	C.B. Zhu, P. Kopold, W.H. Li, P.A. Aken, J. Maier, Y. Yu, Adv. Sci. 2, 1500200 (2015)
[9]	V.M. Rangaraj, A.A. Edathil, P. Kadirvelayutham, F. Banat, Mater. Chem. Phys. 248, 122953 (2020)
[10]	W.Y. Fang, H. Zhao, Y.P. Xie, J.H. Fang, J.Q. Xu, Z.W. Chen, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7, 13044 (2015)
[11]	J.E. Zhou, J.H. Chen, Y.H. Peng, Y.Q. Zheng, A. Zeb, X.M. Lin, Coord. Chem. Rev. 472, 214781 (2022)
[12]	X.J. Zhou, J. Tian, Q.P. Wu, J.L. Hu, C.L. Li, Energy Storage Mater. 24, 644 (2020)
[13]	Y.S. Jun, E.Z. Lee, X.C. Wang, W.H. Hong, G.D. Stucky, A. Thomas, Adv. Funct. Mater. 23, 3661 (2013)
[14]	L. Chen, Y.P. Liu, L.Y. Yang, C.X. Xu, W. Wang, G.Y. Li, Y.C. Zhu, M.J. Zhou, Z.H. Hou, Chem. Eng. Sci. 285, 119626 (2024)
[15]	F.X. Ma, Z.Q. Liu, G.B. Zhang, S.H. Fan, Y. Du, L. Zhen, C.Y. Xu, Small 19, 2207991 (2023)
[16]	W.Z. Zheng, F. Chen, Q. Zeng, Z.J. Li, B. Yang, L.C. Lei, Q.H. Zhang, F. He, X.L. Wu, Y. Hou, Nano-Micro Lett. 12, 1 (2020)
[17]	J.W. Sun, W.K. Xue, L.T. Zhang, L.M. Dai, J.B. Bi, F.L. Yao, J.Y. Deng, P. Xiong, Y.S. Fu, J.W. Zhu, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 61, 6997 (2022)
[18]	F. Jiang, R.M. Li, J.H. Cai, W. Xu, A.M. Cao, D.Q. Chen, X. Zhang, C.R. Wang, C.Y. Shu, J. Mater. Chem. A 3, 19433 (2015)
[19]	K.X. Chen, R. Huang, F.L. Gu, Y. Du, Y.H. Song, Compos. B Eng. 224, 109247 (2021)
[20]	M.J. Jing, Z.G. Chen, Z. Li, F.Y. Li, M.J. Chen, M.J. Zhou, B.H. He, L. Chen, Z.H. Hou, X.B. Chen, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10, 704 (2018)
[21]	L. Chen, L.Y. Yang, L.T. Zeng, X. Liu, X.R. Li, Y.S. Tian, W. Wang, G.Y. Li, C.X. Xu, Z.H. Hou, Acta Metall. Sin. -Engl. Lett. 38, 93 (2025)
[22]	Q.N. Ma, H. Song, Q.Y. Zhuang, J. Liu, Z.H. Zhang, C.M. Mao, H.R. Peng, G.C. Li, K.Z. Chen, Chem. Eng. J. 338, 726 (2018)
[23]	L.L. Li, S.J. Peng, N. Bucher, H.Y. Chen, N. Shen, A. Nagasubramanian, E. Eldho, S. Hartung, S. Ramakrishna, M. Srinivasan, Nano Energy 37, 81 (2017)
[24]	H.C. Pang, W.W. Sun, L.P. Lv, F.Y. Jin, Y. Wang, J. Mater. Chem. A 4, 19179 (2016)
[25]	Z.L. Hu, H.Q. Cui, Y.R. Zhu, G.T. Lei, Z.H. Li, J. Power. Sources 536, 231438 (2022)
[26]	S.Y. Chu, Y.J. Zhong, R. Cai, Z.B. Zhang, S.Y. Wei, Z.P. Shao, Small 12, 6724 (2016)
[27]	M.W. Xiang, L. Yang, Y.F. Zheng, J. Huang, P. Jing, H. Wu, Y. Zhang, H. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. A 5, 18020 (2017)
[28]	T.Y. Hou, S.Y. Yue, X.H. Sun, A. Fan, Y.Y. Chen, M.J. Wang, S. Cai, C.M. Zheng, B.L. Liao, J.M. Zhao, Appl. Surf. Sci. 505, 144633 (2020)
[29]	X. Liu, Y.P. Liu, M.H. Jin, C.X. Xu, Y.S. Tian, M. Zhou, W. Wang, G.Y. Li, Z.H. Hou, L. Chen, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 665, 752 (2024)
[30]	Y.P. Liu, C.X. Xu, W.Q. Ren, L.M. Hu, W.B. Fu, W. Wang, H. Yin, B.H. He, Z.H. Hou, L. Chen, Rare Met. 42, 929 (2023)
[31]	Y.T. Zhang, Z.R. Zhang, Y.L. Zhang, P. Wang, P.F. Han, K.K. Li, W. Liu, Energy Fuels 35, 20330 (2021)
[32]	Y.Y. Yao, J.C. Zheng, Z.Y. Gong, Z.Y. Ding, J. Zhang, W.J. Yu, D.A.M. Bengono, H. Li, B. Zhang, H. Tong, J. Alloys Compd. 790, 288 (2019)
[33]	Q.T. Xu, J.C. Li, H.G. Xue, S.P. Guo, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 12, 52888 (2020)
[34]	Y.X. Xu, W.Y. Li, F. Zhang, X.L. Zhang, W.J. Zhang, C.S. Lee, Y.B. Tang, J. Mater. Chem. A 4, 3697 (2016)
[35]	L. Xu, Y.J. Hu, H.X. Zhang, H. Jiang, C.Z. Li, ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 4, 4251 (2016)
[36]	F.Y. Jing, Y. Wang, J. Mater. Chem. A 3, 1474 (2015)
[37]	Y.S. Choi, W.S. Choi, W.S. Yoon, J.M. Kim, ACS Nano 16, 631 (2022)
[38]	X.J. Xu, J. Liu, Z.B. Liu, J.D. Shen, R.Z. Hu, J.W. Liu, L.Z. Ouyang, L. Zhang, M. Zhu, ACS Nano 11, 9033 (2017)
[39]	P. Jing, Q. Wang, B.Y. Wang, X. Gao, Y. Zhang, H. Wu, Carbon 159, 366 (2020)
[40]	L. Chen, L.Y. Yang, L.Y. Hu, X. Liu, C.X. Xu, Y. Liu, W. Wang, W.Y. Xu, Z.H. Hou, Acta Metall. Sin. -Engl. Lett. 37, 1680 (2024)
[41]	H.H. Sun, J.G. Wang, Y. Zhang, W. Hua, Y.Y. Li, H.Y. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. A 6, 13419 (2018)
[42]	Z.H. Chen, S. Li, Y. Zhao, M.F.A. Aboud, I. Shakir, Y.X. Xu, J. Mater. Chem. A 7, 26342 (2019)