An Innovative Freeze-Dried Reduced Graphene Oxide Supported SnS₂ Cathode Active Material for Aluminum-Ion Batteries

Rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) are attractive new generation energy storage devices due to its low cost, high specific capacity, and good safety. However, the lack of suitable electrode materials with high capacity and enhanced rate performance makes it difficult for real applications. Herein, the preparation of 3D reduced graphene oxide-supported SnS₂ nanosheets hybrid is reported as a new type of cathode material for AIBs. The resultant material demonstrates one of the highest capacities of 392 mAh g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 and good cycling stability. It is revealed that the layered SnS₂ nanosheets anchored on 3D reduced graphene oxide network endows the composite not only high electronic conductivity but also fast kinetic diffusion pathway. As a result, the hybrid material exhibits high rate performance (112 mAh g^-1 at 1000 mA g^-1 ). The detailed characterization also verifies the intercalation and deintercalation of relatively large chloroaluminate anions into the layered SnS₂ during the charge-discharge process, which is important for better understanding of the electrochemical process of AIBs.