Rational Design of Hierarchical SnS2 Microspheres with S Vacancy for Enhanced Sodium Storage Performance

SnS2-based materials have been intensively explored as an anode for sodium-ion batteries. In the present study, hierarchical SnS2 microspheres with S vacancy have been successfully synthesized via a one-step solvothermal process, and it is found that the amount of thioacetamide in the synthetic process plays an important role in morphology and amounts of S vacancies. A series of results calculated from density functional theory has indicated that the introduction of S vacancies could effectively decrease the band gap. As a consequence, the hierarchical SnS2 microspheres exhibit an excellent sodium storage performance, and a large capacity of 486.2 mA h g(-1) can be achieved after 1000 cycles at 1 A g(-1).