3D-hierarchical SnS nanostructures: controlled synthesis, formation mechanism and lithium-ion storage performance

A series of SnS nanocrystals with tunable morphology and sheet thickness have been prepared through a solvothermal method and by introducing selective additives to the solution. Such SnS nanocrystals exhibit hierarchical hollow structures of SnS nanoflowers assembled from nanosheets. The formation of the SnS hollow micro-flowers is based on an inside-out Ostwald ripening mechanism. By adjusting the additive and concentration, we can grow SnS nanosheets of about 14 nm thick, at which thickness the band gap of SnS can be expected to increase so as to give an opportunity to explore the structure-related novel properties and superior device performance. As one application for these SnS nanostructure, properties vs. morphology for lithium storage were investigated, and it is shown that the SnS porous spheres built with scale-like ultrathin nanosheets exhibited the best performance.