Structure-mediated electrochemical performance of SnS₂ anode for Li-ion batteries

In this study, SnS₂ powders with various surface morphologies are prepared using a facile solvothermal route with three different solvents. The powders synthesized in ethylene glycol and deionized water exhibit aggregates composed of nanoplates, whereas those synthesized in ethanol show flower-like microspheres (diameter: 1–2 µm) composed of nanosheets (thickness: 60–70 nm). The hierarchical flower-like microstructures can alleviate the volume change during charge/discharge cycles due to their porous nature. In addition, SnS₂ synthesized at a lower temperature (100 °C) has nanoplates with a lower thickness, improving electrochemical performance. At a constant current density of 300 mA g⁻¹, the microflowers exhibit a reversible capacity of 460 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles, a retention of 84%. More importantly, at a higher current density of 5000 mA g⁻¹, a reversible capacity of 285 mAh g⁻¹ is obtained. This study demonstrates that SnS₂ synthesized using suitable processing design strategies can be used as an efficient active material for lithium-ion batteries.