Composite V₃S₄@rGO nanowires as a high-performance anode material for lithium-/sodium-ion batteries

A composite of V₃S₄ nanowires and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is synthesized by using a simple hydrothermal method followed by vulcanization. The rGO can effectively alleviate the volume expansion of V₃S₄, improve the electrical conductivity, and accelerate the ion mobility during the cycling process. When used as electrode material, the V₃S₄@rGO composite exhibits excellent electrochemical performance in both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). At a current density of 2 A g⁻¹, the reversible capacity of V₃S₄@rGO electrode can exhibit 544.8 mAh g⁻¹ in the first cycle and 57.4% (312.5 mAh g⁻¹) was retained after 1000 cycles in LIBs, it also shows the initial capacity of 429.7 mAh g⁻¹ and 54.2% (232.8 mAh g⁻¹) was remained after 2000 cycles in SIBs. The excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to the existence of the special rGO layer on the surface of the material, which can effectively ensure the structural stability of V₃S₄.