Metal sulfides encapsulated in doped carbon aerogel towards superior and safe energy storage : Two birds with one stone

Up to now, lithium/sodium ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs) are deemed as the ideal candidates for traditional fossil energy. However, the absence of suitable Li⁺/Na⁺ reservoirs and the hazard of thermal runway have plagued their usages. Using Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ or TiO₂ anode promotes the thermal safety of LIBs/SIBs but reduce their electrochemical property. How to achieve the balanced performances has been an urgency. Here, we have delicately designed a 3D micro-nanostructure of CoS₂/doped carbon aerogel (CoS₂@NCA), via “killing two birds with one stone” strategy. When used as LIBs anode, CoS₂@NCA delivers a high capacity of 639.5 mAh g⁻¹ after operating at 1 A g⁻¹ for 250 cycles, giving a low-capacity attenuation rate of 0.048 % per cycle. Meanwhile, the reduced maximum temperature and maximum heating rate of thermal runaway (TR) are observed for cell. When used as SIBs anode, CoS₂@NCA delivers a high capacity of 620.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 100th cycle as working at 1 A g⁻¹. Likewise, the activation energy for TR is promoted. Overall, the utilization of CoS₂@NCA enables the superior and safe energy storage. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd