In situ implanting fine ZnSe nanoparticles into N-doped porous carbon nanosheets as an exposed highly active and long-life anode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Abstract Owing to the high theoretical specific capacity, transition metal selenides (TMSs) have emerged as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the application of TMSs still confronts fast capacity decay and sluggish reaction kinetics associated to their inherent poor conductivity and huge volume expansion during lithiation-delithiation cycles. Herein, the fine ZnSe nanoparticles are implanted into N-doped porous carbon nanosheets through synchronous pyrolysis/selenization of a leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate framework mixed with selenium powder. The highly dispersed fine ZnSe nanoparticles (NPs) coupled with conductive porous carbon nanosheets (denoted as ZnSe/NC) endow the resultant composite with superior structural merits for facilitating electron/ion transfer, thus alleviating the volume fluctuation. The systematic electrochemical investigation illustrates that the as-prepared ZnSe/NC-700 electrode can obtain a high reversible capacity (426.5 mAh g-1 at 1\xa0A\xa0g-1 after 1000 cycles), excellent cycling stability (368.9 mAh g-1 after 1800 cycles at 2\xa0A\xa0g-1) and nearly 100％ columbic efficiency. In all, our strategy provides a new idea for synthesis of unique anode materials in LIBs.