Modified bornite materials with high electrochemical performance for sodium and lithium storage

Abstract

Mineral-based functional materials have attracted enormous attention due to the advantages of high production, good material consistency, environmental friendliness, and low cost. However, the efficient utilization of natural minerals for high-performance energy storage is rarely reported. In this work, we demonstrate a mineral-derived anode material Cu5FeS4 coated with carbon for both sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries. The findings show that ball milling bornite in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone followed by optimal-temperature carbonization results in S, N-codoped Cu5FeS4 particles with the desired surface properties, enhanced electronic conductivity, and abundant active sites that deliver high reversible capacity and maintain superior long-term cycling performance at a high current density of 2.0 A g−1. This work sheds light on potential energy storage use cases for naturally abundant mineral-based materials.