An innovative double-Shell layer nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon-Encapsulated FeS composite for enhanced lithium-Ion battery performance

Abstract

FeS, with its high theoretical capacity and natural abundance, holds significant promise as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its practical application is constrained by poor electrical conductivity and substantial volume expansion during cycling, which impair charge–discharge efficiency and cycling stability. To overcome these challenges, we developed a nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon-encapsulated FeS composite with a hollow double-layer structure (HDL-FeS@NSC). Utilizing sulfur spheres as a sacrificial template, our inside-out synthesis strategy produces a unique material design. The HDL-FeS@NSC composite exhibits significant improvements in electrochemical performance compared to pure FeS. These enhancements are due to its increased specific surface area, which facilitates lithium-ion diffusion; a shortened Li+ diffusion pathway; structural stability that mitigates volume expansion; and an optimized carbon layer that boosts conductivity. The HDL-FeS@NSC-70 anode demonstrates a specific capacity of 879.6 mAh/g after 600 cycles at 1.0 A/g and retains 558.0 mAh/g at 5.0 A/g. Additionally, the lithium storage mechanism has been thoroughly investigated using in-situ techniques. These results suggest that the HDL-FeS@NSC composite anode has the potential to significantly enhance lithium-ion battery performance, offering a promising solution for next-generation energy storage systems.