LAUSR

Abstract Nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) decorated Cu2NiSnS4 (CNTS) microflower composites (NC@CNTS) were fabricated through a facile solvothermal and pyrrole polymerization with further annealing treatment. The NC@CNTS composites possessed a three-dimension (3D) microflower-like hierarchical structure. The unique microflower structure of NC@CNTS composites exhibited remarkable electrochemical performance as electrode materials for long life lithium ion batteries. The as-prepared composites had a stable and reversible capacity that reached 943 mA h g−1 after 160 cycles at a current rate of 0.1 A g−1. It showed satisfactory cycle stability and rate capability even at 2 A g−1, and specific capacity stabilized at 288 mA g−1 after 1000 cycles. The present facile and cost-effective strategy can be applied for the synthesis of other transition metal sulfide nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion applications.