Optimized Tungsten Disulfide via Pyrolytic Deposition for Improved Zn-Ion Batteries

The selection and optimization of cathode materials are crucial for enhancing the performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. In this work, different active materials were created by combining Sulfur powder and polydopamine in four different mass ratios. The novel N-doped carbon/WS₂ is obtained. Thanks to the optimization of the dopamine-carrying tungsten ion precursor and Sulfur powder (1 : 2, 1 : 4, 1 : 6 and 1 : 8), the four samples exhibited different morphology. The N−C/WS₂-6-based zinc ion batteries with the highest specific capacity, 120.0 mAh/g in the first discharge at 2.0 A/g, and 78.0 mAh/g after 2500 cycles, with a capacity retention of 65 %, had a relatively good overall performance, according to the results. The reaction kinetics characteristics of the N−C/WS₂-6 cathode reveal that diffusion has a significant impact on the processes in the aqueous zinc ionic material N−C/WS₂-6.