title: Unlocking the potential of SnS2: Transition metal catalyzed utilization of reversible conversion and alloying reactions.
abstract: The alloying-dealloying reactions of SnS2proceeds with the initial conversion reaction of SnS2with lithium that produces Li2S. Unfortunately, due to the electrochemical inactivity of Li2S, the conversion reaction of SnS2is irreversible, which significantly limit its potential applications in lithium-ion batteries. Herein, a systematic understanding of transition metal molybdenum (Mo) as a catalyst in SnS2anode is presented. It is found that Mo catalyst is able to efficiently promote the reversible conversion of Sn to SnS2. This leads to the utilization of both conversion and alloying reactions in SnS2that greatly increases lithium storage capability of SnS2. Mo catalyst is introduced in the form of MoS2grown directly onto self-assembled vertical SnS2nanosheets that anchors on three-dimensional graphene (3DG) creating a hierarchal nanostructured named as SnS2/MoS2/3DG. The catalytic effect results in a significantly enhanced electrochemical properties of SnS2/MoS2/3DG; a high initial Coulombic efficiency (81.5%) and high discharge capacities of 960.5 and 495.6 mA h g-1at current densities of 50 and 1000 mA g-1, respectively. Post cycling investigations using ex situ TEM and XPS analysis verifies the successful conversion reaction of SnS2mediated by Mo. The successful integration of catalyst on alloying type metal sulfide anode creates a new avenue towards high energy density lithium anodes.
authors.affiliation: Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore.|Airbus Group Innovations Singapore, 110 Seletar Aerospace View 797562, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zhi Xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore.
authors.forename: Dezhi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tupei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hui Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang