NiS(2) nanoparticles anchored on open carbon nanohelmets as an advanced anode for lithium-ion batteries

Low intrinsic conductivity and large volume expansion seriously restrict the efficient lithium storage performance of metal sulfides. Here, we fabricate a hybrid material of NiS(2) nanoparticles/carbon nanohelmets (NiS(2)/CNHs) to address the above issues. As an anode material in lithium-ion batteries, NiS(2)/CNHs exhibit excellent cycling stability (490 mA h g(−1) after 3000 cycles at 5 A g(−1)) and rate properties (412 mA h g(−1) at 10 A g(−1)), outperforming other NiS(x)-based anode materials. These remarkable performances originate from the three-dimensional helmet-like integrated architecture of NiS(2)/CNHs, which reduces the electrode resistance due to the tight combination between NiS(2) and CNHs, provides efficient diffusion paths for the electrolyte and Li(+) owing to the amorphous nanoporous carbon structure, and significantly mitigates the aggregation and buffers the large volumetric expansion of NiS(2) nanoparticles upon long-term cycling thanks to the open three-dimensional architecture and well-dispersed NiS(2) nanoparticles on it.