Synthesis, characterization and application of SnSx (x = 1, 2) nanoparticles

Tin sulfides (SnS and SnS2) nanomaterials were synthesized and investigated. SnS nanoparticles were prepared through a precipitation reaction between SnCl2·2H2O and thioacetamide (TAA) in an acidic aqueous solution at 60 °C; while SnS2 nanocrystallites were synthesized from SnCl4·5H2O and TAA via a hydrothermal route at 120 °C. The structure, morphologies, composition, and properties of the as-synthesized SnS and SnS2 products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that SnS nanoparticles possessed a multilayer nanostructure with an average diameter of 30-100 nm; whereas SnS2 nanocrystals were well crystallized with various morphologies such as short rods and polyhedra. The diameters of the SnS2 nanorods are in the range of 30-50 nm with length of 50-150 nm; while the sizes of the polyhedra are in the range of 40-100 nm. Furthermore, the as-prepared SnS and SnS2 nanoparticles were applied and examined for the anode materials of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Both of them showed high initial discharge capacities, which were 1323 and 931 mAh g−1 for SnS2 and SnS, respectively. However, the capacity decay needs to be further improved.