CuCo2S4: Versatile anode for high capacity and high rate for lithium and sodium ion battery application

In an attempt to exploit ternary metal sulfides as high energy and high power anode material for lithium and sodium ion batteries, in-house prepared CuCo2S4 (CCS) nanoparticles, obtained through template free one pot solvothermal synthesis has been deployed. Herein, particle size of CCS obtained below 50 nm helps to address two main challenges such as capacity fading and inferior rate capability behavior. Further, we demonstrate the composite of CCS consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in the form of CCS/MWCNT as potential anode for LIBs and SIBs. While pristine CCS delivers a specific capacity of 934 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1 even after 50 cycles, the CCS/MWCNT anode exhibits an appealing capacity of 1300 mA h g−1 for 200 cycles at 500 mA g−1 and 1700 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 for 50 cycles in LIBs. Similarly, CCS/MWCNT anode exhibits 181 mA h g−1 and 236 mA h g−1 at 5 and 1 A g−1 respectively upto 500 cycles in SIBs with 90 and 95% capacity retention, which is noteworthy. CCS/MWCNT anode tolerates up to 20 A g−1 current density and delivers a capacity of 87 mA h g−1, thus qualifying itself as the versatile anode for application in LIBs and SIBs. [Display omitted] •CCS/MWCNT exhibits anode behavior through insertion and conversion mechanism.•In LIBs, CCS/MWCNT anode exhibits 1300 mA h g−1 for 200 cycles at 500 mA g−1 condition.•CCS/MWCNT anode delivers 181 mA h g−1 and 236 mA h g−1 even at 5 and 1 A g−1 respectively upto 500 cycles in SIBs.•Tolerance up to 20 A g−1 current density is exhibited by CCS/MWCNT anode by demonstrating 87 mA h g−1 in SIBs,