Marrying V5S8 and Sb2S3 for volume-tolerant and high-rate potassium-ion storage

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Yulian Dong - , Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology (Author)
  • Yubin Fu - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed), Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Vincent Hartmann - , Ilmenau University of Technology (Author)
  • Changfan Xu - , Ilmenau University of Technology (Author)
  • Ping Hong - , Ilmenau University of Technology (Author)
  • Yueliang Li - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Huaping Zhao - , Ilmenau University of Technology (Author)
  • Weidong Shi - , Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (Author)
  • Ute Kaiser - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Yong Lei - , Ilmenau University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

To address the challenges of sluggish ion transport and severe volume fluctuation in potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) arising from the large K+ radius, we design a covalently bonded V5S8/Sb2S3 heterostructure encapsulated in N-doped carbon (V5S8/Sb2S3@NC). Calculations using density functional theory (DFT) show that the metallic V5S8 and semiconducting Sb2S3 form a bandgap-free interface, facilitating rapid charge transfer, while the V–S–Sb covalent bonds enhance interfacial stability. Where V5S8 undergoes partial (de)intercalation-induced amorphization that relaxes lattice stress and buffers the ∼300% volume expansion of Sb2S3 to only ∼112% (verified by in situ optical microscopy). The synergistic design delivers a high reversible capacity of 657.6 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1, long-term cycling stability with 301.5 mA h g−1 retained after 600 cycles at 1 A g−1, and rate capability superior to most reported PIB anodes. This work highlights the critical role of covalent interface engineering and amorphization-regulated K+ storage for high-energy PIB anodes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4738-4750
Number of pages13
JournalInorganic chemistry frontiers
Volume13
Issue number11
Early online date20 Apr 2026
Publication statusPublished - 26 May 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas