SnS2@Graphene nanosheet arrays grown on carbon cloth as freestanding binder-free flexible anodes for advanced sodium batteries

Flexible electrodes with light weight, favorable mechanical strength, low cost and high energy/high power density have attracted tremendous interest for next-generation sodium ion rechargeable batteries. This work reports the first effort to achieve novel flexible free-standing SnS2@Graphene nanosheet arrays as next-generation sodium ion battery anode materials by using a facile two-step solvothermal route. The as-prepared nanosheet arrays serve as an integrated electrode without metal current collectors, binders or any conductive additives, demonstrating excellent cycleability with a capacity of 378 mAh/g after 200 cycles at a specific current of 1200 mA/g and improved rate capability with discharge capacities of 633, 523, 458 and 348 mAh/g at specific currents of 200, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mA/g, respectively. In comparison with most of the widely reported Sn or SnO2-based anode materials, our integrated SnS2@Graphene nanosheet arrays exhibit superior cycling performance and rate capability as well as novel flexible feature for application as anodes in high-energy high-power sodium ion batteries. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.