Growth-Controllable Spindle Chain Heterostructural Anodes Based on MIL-88A for Enhanced Lithium/Sodium Storage

Abstract

Engineering bead-on-string architectures with refined interfacial interactions and low ion diffusion barriers is a highly promising but challenging approach for lithium/sodium storage. Herein, a spindle-chain-structured Fe-based metal organic frameworks (MIL-88A) self-sacrificial template was constructed via the seed-mediated growth of Fe³⁺ and fumaric acid in an aqueous solution, which is an environmentally friendly synthesis route. The seed-mediated growth method effectively segregates the nucleation stage from the subsequent growth phase, offering precise control over the growth patterns of MIL-88A through manipulation of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The structural diversity, fast ion/electron diffusion, and unique interfaces of whole anodes are simultaneously enhanced through optimization of the spindle-chain structure of Fe₂O₃@N-doped carbon nanofibers (FO@NCNFs) at the atomic, nano, and macroscopic levels. Benefiting from their heteroatom-doping conductive networks, porous structure, and synergistic effects, FO@NCNFs exhibit a remarkable rate performance of 167 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹ after 2000 cycles for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and long-term cycling stability with a sustained capacity of 260 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹ after 2000 cycles for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). This versatile approach for fabricating bead-on-string architectures at both the nanoscale and macroscale is promising for the development of high-energy–density and high-power-density electrode materials.

Keywords

Spindle chain heterostructure / Seed-mediated growth / Multi-level optimization / Metal–organic frameworks / Lithium/sodium storage

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Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20201343); Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(KYCX23_2472); National Natural Science Foundation of China(21201083); Hubei Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Optoelectronic Material and Devices(HLOM231006); Basic Research and Development Plan of Xiangyang(2022ABH006229)