Synergistic interfacial engineering of Sb2S3 derived from antimony electrolyte for advanced sodium-ion batteries

Antimony sulfide (Sb 2 S 3 ), characterized by its high theoretical capacity and favorable reaction kinetics, has been extensively investigated as a promising conversion anode for sodium−ion batteries (SIBs). However, its substantial volume changes and intrinsically low electrical conductivity affect the SIB performance. Herein, one–dimensional (1D) Sb 2 S 3 nanotubes coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) derived carbon and anchored onto a conductive network of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (Sb 2 S 3 /PVP@CNTs) are elaborately designed by tailoring the pH of antimony electrolyte (Na 3 SbS 3 ) solution. Experimentally, the Sb 2 S 3 /PVP@CNTs composites as an anode provide a considerable reversible capacity of 368 mAh g −1 in SIBs at 1 A g −1 after 200 cycles. The formation of interfacial Sb–O–C bonds is attributed to the synergistic interaction of –OH groups in CNTs, PVP, and Sb 3+ throughout its lifecycle, as validated by X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results. Theoretical calculations strongly evidence that the narrower bandgap can enhance electrochemical kinetics and reaction reversibility. Crucially, this study provides a novel and scalable strategy for the synergistic development of green metallurgy and advanced energy storage systems.