MOF-Derived AlCuSe₂ Embedded in a Carbon Matrix for an Economical Anode of Lithium-Ion Battery

Binary metal chalcogenides (TMCs) have emerged as a potential candidate for lithium-ion batteries due to their availability, abundance, chemical properties, and high theoretical capacities. Despite these characteristics, they suffer from significant volume change, limited life cycle, and inferior rate capabilities which hinder their practical applications. These issues can be addressed by selecting low-cost nanostructure metal combinations coupled with a carbon matrix, which tackles significant volume change to give prolonged cycle life and high-rate capabilities. Herein, novel MOF-derived aluminum copper selenide (ACSe@C) nanospheres embedded in a carbon matrix are synthesized via a facile solvothermal route. Owing to their uniform porous structure, ACSe@C nanospheres exhibit excellent electrochemical performance as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. ACSe@C delivers a high specific capacity of 633.6 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 and a good rate capability of 532 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 and 400 mAh g^-1 at 8 A g^-1. This study demonstrates that ACSe@C is a good candidate for next-generation energy-storage devices.