Synthesis of homogeneously dispersed ZnS on nanocarbons as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

초록

Transition-metal chalcogenides such as zinc sulfide (ZnS) have garnered significant attention as promising materials for various primary and secondary batteries. However, ZnS suffers from inherent drawbacks, including low electrical conductivity and structural instability induced by volume expansion during cycling for ZnS anode. To overcome these limitations, the combination of ZnS with carbon-based materials offers a promising alternative to graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. In this study, ZnS nanoparticles were incorporated into a carbon-carbon composite consisting of nanocarbons (NCs) and CNTs. Metal-organic frameworks containing Zn were synthesized on the surface of CNTs and subsequently carbonized to derive the NCs, exhibiting uniformly dispersed Zn, offering additional active sites for anchoring sulfur to form ZnS nanoparticles. Moreover, the incorporation of CNTs into the ZnS@NC composite substantially enhanced electrical conductivity, resulting in a specific capacity exceeding 800 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹. Cycling tests further demonstrated that ZnS@NC/CNT retained a stable capacity of 802.3 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ after 400 cycles, highlighting its remarkable stability and high discharge capacity. These findings highlight the synergistic contributions of ZIF-8-derived NCs and CNTs in improving electrochemical performance, establishing the composite as a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage systems. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Korean Carbon Society 2026.

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