Synthesis, characterization and application of SnSx (x = 1, 2) nanoparticles

Tin sulfides (SnS and SnS2) nanomaterials were synthesized and investigated. SnS nanoparticles were prepared through a precipitation reaction between SnCl2·2H2O and thioacetamide (TAA) in an acidic aqueous solution at 60 °C; while SnS2 nanocrystallites were synthesized from SnCl4·5H2O and TAA via a hydrothermal route at 120 °C. The structure, morphologies, composition, and properties of the as-synthesized SnS and SnS2 products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that SnS nanoparticles possessed a multilayer nanostructure with an average diameter of 30–100 nm; whereas SnS2 nanocrystals were well crystallized with various morphologies such as short rods and polyhedra. The diameters of the SnS2 nanorods are in the range of 30–50 nm with length of 50–150 nm; while the sizes of the polyhedra are in the range of 40–100 nm. Furthermore, the as-prepared SnS and SnS2 nanoparticles were applied and examined for the anode materials of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Both of them showed high initial discharge capacities, which were 1323 and 931 mAh g−1 for SnS2 and SnS, respectively. However, the capacity decay needs to be further improved.