Strong interfacial interaction assisted by open architecture structure for efficient energy conversion

The advancement of green environmental protection and renewable new energy has become a pivotal aspect of sustainable development, particularly in light of the dual challenges posed by environmental pollution and energy scarcity. Bi₂S₃ is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective semiconductor material with high theoretical weight and volumetric capacity. Nevertheless, the electrochemical cycle of Bi 2 S 3 is characterised by a significant volume expansion, which can result in the formation of electrode powder and a deterioration in battery performance. In this work, a "sea urchin-like" Bi 2 S 3 electrode material is self-assembled from a nanorod designed and prepared as anode material for a sodium ion battery (SIB). The findings demonstrate that the 3D urchin-like configuration can enhance structural integrity, stabilize reaction intermediates, facilitate reversible transformation and mitigate the substantial volume fluctuations induced by sodium ions during the embedding and removal processes. This strategy facilitates the commercialisation of SIB and offers insights into the development of other energy storage devices.