Electrochemical properties of monolithic nickel sulfide electrodes for use in sodium batteries

• We succeeded in preparing monolithic Ni3S2 integrated electrode through the sulfuration.
• The sulfuration is a facile and useful method to synthesize metal sulfides with nanostructure.
• As-prepared monolithic Ni3S2 electrodes showed very stable and cycle performance over charge/discharge cycling.

Monolithic nickel sulfide electrodes were prepared using a facile synthesis method, sulfuration and annealing. As-prepared Ni3S2 electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffractometry and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Thermal stability was determined by thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Electrochemical properties were measured by galvanostatic charge and discharge cycling for Na-ion batteries. Three kinds of Ni3S2 electrodes were prepared by varying the sulfuration time (5, 15 and 25 min). The electrochemical results indicated that the capacities increased with an increase in sulfuration time and the cycle performance was stable as a result of monolithic integration of nanostructured Ni3S2 on Ni plates, leading to low interfacial resistance.

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