SnSex flowerlike composites as anode materials for sodium ion batteries

SuSe(x) flowerlike composites have been synthesized by a facile single-step solvothermal method with the addition of 1,10-phenanthroline. As anode materials for sodium ion batteries, the SnSex flowerlike composites demonstrate a higher initial sodium ion storage capacities of 877.2 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) and a better cycling performance (272.4 mA h g(-1) after 50 cycles at 200 mA g(-1)) compared to bulk SnSex composites. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to the hierarchical flowerlike architecture which can increase the electrode/electrolyte contact area, shorten the electronic sodium ion pathway and limit the volume change of materials due to facile strain relaxation. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.