Recycling the spent electronic materials to construct a high-performance Cu_1.94S/ZnS heterostructure anode of sodium-ion batteries

Heterostructure engineering by coupling different nanocrystals has received extensive attention because it can enhance the reaction kinetics of the anode of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, constructing high-quality heterostructure anode materials through green and environmentally friendly methods remains a challenge. Herein, we have proposed a simple one-step method by recycling the electronic waste metal materials to synthesize the Cu_1.94S/ZnS heterostructure materials. Combined with the experimental analysis and first principle calculations, we find that the synergistic effect of different components in heterostructure structures can significantly enhance the reversible capacity and rate performance of anode materials. Based on the constructed Cu_1.94S/ZnS anode, we obtain a superior reversible capacity of 440 mAh·g⁻¹ at 100 mA·g⁻¹ and 335 mAh·g⁻¹ after 3000 cycles at 2000 mA·g⁻¹. Our work sheds new light on designing high-rate and capacity anodes for SIBs through the greenness synthesis method.