Fe-alginate biomass-derived FeS/3D interconnected carbon nanofiber aerogels as anodes for high performance sodium-ion batteries

The development of anode materials with a high capacity, excellent rate capability, and acceptable stability for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is still an urgent issue. Here, we fabricated FeS nanoparticle (NP)/three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanofiber aerogels (CNA) composites utilizing Fe-alginate aerogels as the renewable precursor. In the FeS/CNA sample, well-distributed FeS NPs were embedded on a 3D-CNA network with high electron conductivity and a large specific surface area. Impressively, the FeS/CNA sample was evaluated as an anode electrode material for SIBs, and exhibited an excellent specific capacity (473 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1)) and outstanding rate capacity (291 mA h g(-1) at 5 Ag-1). In addition, 97.4% of the capacity, 385 mA h g(-1), was retained over 400 cycles at 2 A g(-1), indicating the prominent cycling stability of the FeS/CNA sample. The results were ascribed to the unique structure of the FeS particles embedded on interconnected CNAs, which could boost sodium ion diffusion and facilitate electrolyte access. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.