WS2 nanosheets@ZIF-67-derived N-doped carbon composite as sodium ion battery anode with superior rate capability

[Display omitted] •This work provides a novel and reliable insight for designing bimetallic sulfide with 2D nanostructure.•Laurel-leaf-like Co9S8/WS2@NC delivers a capacity of 359 mA h g−1 at 5.0 A g−1•This as-prepared bimetallic sulfide exhibits a high capacitive contribution ratio of 90.8%.•The excellent performance originates from interface electric field and synergistic effects Co9S8 and WS2. Devising novel composite electrodes with particular structural/electrochemical characteristics becomes an efficient strategy to advance the performance of rechargeable battery. Herein, considering the homogeneous transition metal sulfide with N-doped carbon derived from zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) and WS2 with large interlayer spacing, a laurel-leaf-like Co9S8/WS2@N-doped carbon bimetallic sulfide (Co9S8/WS2@NC) is engineered and prepared via a step-by-step method. As an electrode material for sodium ion batteries (SIBs), Co9S8/WS2@NC composite delivers high capacities of 480 and 405 mA h g−1 at 0.1 and 1.0 A g−1, respectively. As the current density increases from 0.1 to 5.0 A g−1, it provides specific capacity of 359 mA h g−1 with a capacity retention rate of 78.0%, which is higher than that of Co9S8@NC (63.5%) and WS2 (58.6%). The Co9S8/WS2@NC composite anode maintains a stable specific capacity (354 mA h g−1 at 2.0 A g−1). It also exhibits a high capacitive contribution ratio of 90.8% at 1.0 mV s−1. This study provides a new and reliable insight for designing bimetallic sulfide with two-dimensional nanostructure for energy storage.