A one-pot method to prepare a multi-metal sulfide/carbon composite with a high lithium-ion storage capability

Because of their high electrochemical activity, good structural stability, and abundant active sites, multi-metal sulfide/carbon (MMS/C) composites are of tremendous interest in diverse fields, including catalysis, energy, sensing, and environmental science. However, their cumbersome, inefficient, and environmentally unfriendly synthesis is hindering their practical application. We report a straightforward and universal method for their production which is based on homogeneous multi-phase interface engineering. The method has enabled the production of 14 different MMS/C composites, as examples, with well-organized composite structures, different components, and dense heterointerfaces. Because of their composition and structure, a typical composite has efficient, fast, and persistent lithium-ion storage. A ZnS-Co₉S₈/C composite anode showed a remarkable rate performance and an excellent capacity of 651 mAh·g⁻¹ at 0.1 A·g⁻¹ after 600 cycles. This work is expected to pave the way for the easy fabrication of MMS/C composites.