6533b7d4fe1ef96bd12632cb

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Prussian blue@MoS2 layer composites as highly efficient cathodes for sodium- and potassium-ion batteries

subject

description

Prussian blue (PB) represents a simple, economical, and eco‐friendly system as cathode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, structural problems usually worsen its experimental performance thus motivating the search for alternative synthetic strategies and the formation of composites that compensate these deficiencies. Herein, a straightforward approach for the preparation of PB/MoS2‐based nanocomposites is presented. MoS2 provides a 2D active support for the homogeneous nucleation of porous PB nanocrystals, which feature superior surface areas than those obtained by other methodologies, giving rise to a compact PB shell covering the full flake. The nanocomposite exhibits an excellent performance as cathode for SIBs with discharge capacity values up to 177 mA h g−1 and a specific capacitance of 354 F g−1. These values are even larger for the intercalation of K+ ions (up to 215 mA h g−1, reaching a specific capacitance of 489 F g−1). Compared to similar composites, superior performance can be ascribed to a synergistic effect of the coordination compound with the 2D material. The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish MINECO (MAT2014-56143-R co-financed by FEDER and Excellence Unit “María de Maeztu”MDM-2015-0538), the EU (ERC Proof of Concept Hy-MAC (713704), 2D-INK- (664878) and ERC Stg Chem-fs-MOF (714122)) and the Generalidad Valenciana (Prometeo Program). M.M.-G. and J.R. thank the Spanish MINECO for the F.P.U. and F.P.I fellowships, respectively, M.G. acknowledges the European Union Horizon 2020 Marie Curie Actions under the project SPIN2D (H2020/2014-659378), A.F.-A. thanks the Universitat de València for a research grant, N.M.P. thanks the Junta de Andalucía for post-doctoral fellowship (P10-FQM-6050) and J.C.W. acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), contract UID/Multi/04349/2013.