Facile\nSynthesis of Different Morphologies of Cu₂SnS₃ for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Abstract

Cu₂SnS₃ is considered as an emerging potential candidate for electrode\nmaterials due to considerable interlayer spaces and tunnels in its\ncrystal structures and excellent conducting ability. Ternary Cu₂SnS₃ as anode in lithium ion batteries has already\nbeen reported, but it is rarely mentioned to be applied in supercapacitors\nwhich is considered to be a complementary energy storage device for\nlithium ion batteries. It is an effective method to improve the electrochemical\nperformance of materials by adjusting the morphology and microstructure\nof materials. In present study, ternary nanosheet-assembled Cu₂SnS₃ microspheres (M-CTS) and nanoparticles-like\nCu₂SnS₃ (N-CTS) are synthesized via a facile\nsolvothermal route. The results suggest that Cu₂SnS₃ microspheres (M-CTS) exhibit better capacitive performance\ncompared with Cu₂SnS₃ (N-CTS) nanoparticles,\nwhich means that morphology does have a significant effect on the\nelectrochemical reaction. M-CTS presents excellent supercapacitor\nperformances with the high specific capacity of about 406 C g^–1 at a current density of 1 A g^–1 and achieves a high energy density of 85.6 W h kg^–1 and power density of 720 W kg^–1. The remarkable\nelectrochemical performance of Cu₂SnS₃ can be\nattributed to the large specific surface area, smaller average pore\nsize, and improved electrical conductivity. Our research indicates\nthat it is very suitable for large-scale production and has enormous\npotential in the practical application of high-performance supercapacitors.