Synthesis of cobalt nanofibers @ nickel sulfide nanosheets hierarchical core-shell composites for anode materials of lithium ion batteries

Cobalt nanofibers @ Ni3S2 nanosheets (Co@Ni3S2) composites with high surface area (241.67 m2/g) were successfully synthesized via a chemical conversion route. The special nanostructure afforded sufficient space for the volume change, ensured efficient electrolyte penetration, increased contact area between electrolyte and active material during discharge-charge process. Moreover, the existence of the cobalt nanofibers with high conductivity provided a possibility for the rapid transportation of the electrons and lithium ions. The composite electrodes presented a reversible discharge capacity of 531 mAh/g with a good cyclic stability. This research perhaps inspired the designing of high performance electrode materials with a novel structure for high performance energy storage devices.