Carbon coated zinc silicate hierarchical flowers as anode for lithium and sodium ion batteries

[Display omitted] •ZSF@C is fabricated via hydrothermal method with subsequent dopamine coating and annealing.•ZSF hierarchical structure composed of nanoflakes shortens the Li+/Na+ diffusion pathways.•Amorphous carbon layer enhances the electronic conductivity, buffers the volume variation, and keeps the structure integrity.•ZSF@C composite exhibits excellent rate and cycling performance for LIBs and SIBs. Transition metal silicates with the intrinsic low electronic conductivity and large volume variation are prohibited by its poor cycling stability. Herein, amorphous carbon coating zinc silicate flower-like structure is successfully synthesized via facile hydrothermal method. The composite shortens the diffusion path of lithium/sodium ions and enhances the electronic conductivity. The carbon coated flower-like structure bestows the composite a high reversible capacity, cycling stability and good rate performance. Even at 1A/g, it still retains the capacity of 544.7mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles for lithium ion batteries. It also exhibits good sodium storage, delivering a capacity of 294.7mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at 0.05A/g.