Insights into Electrochemical Processes of Hollow Octahedral Co3Se4@rGO for High-Rate Sodium Ion Storage

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs), as an alternative and promising energy storage system, have attracted considerable attention due to the abundant reserves and low cost of sodium. However, it remains a great challenge to achieve high capacity and rate capability required for practical applications. Herein, hollow octahedral Co3Se4 particles encapsulated in reduced graphene oxide (Co3Se4@rGO) were designed and synthesized and exhibited excellent electrochemical performances as anodes of SIBs, especially rate capability. Sodiation/desodiation processes and involved mechanisms were investigated by using in situ TEM and in situ XRD. During sodiation, a crystalline Na2Se layer with numerous amorphous fine Co nanoparticles dispersed on it was observed to appear on the surface of the original Co3Se4@rGO particles, and the movable Co-Na2Se composites further migrated to the rGO network with high electron/ion dual conductivity, resulting in ultrafast sodium storage kinetics and remarkable rate performance of the Co3Se4@rGO anode evidenced by delivering a discharge capacity of 229.3 mAh g(-1) at a large current density of 50 A g(-1). Our findings reveal the fundamental mechanism behind the enhanced performance of the Co3Se4@rGO anode and offer valuable insights into the rational design of electrode materials for high-performance SIBs.

Automated summary

This study successfully designed and synthesized hollow octahedral Co3Se4 particles encapsulated in reduced graphene oxide, which exhibited excellent electrochemical performances as anodes in sodium ion batteries, especially in terms of rate capability. The sodiation/desodiation processes and mechanisms were investigated using in situ TEM and in situ XRD, revealing the fundamental mechanism behind the improved performance of the Co3Se4@rGO anode.