Breaking Barriers: Binder-Assisted NiS/NiS₂ Heterostructure Anode with High Initial Coulombic Efficiency for Advanced...

Developing sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) with high initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) and long-term cycling stability is crucial to meet energy storage device requirements. Designing anode materials that could exhibit high ICE is a promising strategy to realize enhanced energy density in SIBs. A trifunctional network binder substantially improves the electrochemical performance and ICE, providing excellent mechanical properties and strong adhesion strength. A rationally designed electrode material and binder can achieve high ICE, long cycling performance, and excellent specific capacity. Here, a NiS/NiS₂ heterostructure as an anode material and a trifunctional network binder (SA-g-PAM) are designed for SIBs. Unprecedently, the anode comprising of an SA-g-PAM binder achieved the highest ICE of 90.7% and remarkable cycling stability for 19000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g^-1 and maintained the specific capacity of 482.3 mAh g^-1 even after 19000 cycles. This exciting work provides an alternate direction to the battery industry for developing high-performance electrode materials and binders with high ICE and excellent cycling stability for energy storage devices.