Synthesis of tablet-like BiOCl as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries by room-temperature liquid-phase co-deposition

The two-dimensional layered structure endows BiOCl with significant potential for energy storage applications. However, its widespread application is limited by volume fluctuations during cycling. Herein, a new morphological strategy for tablet-like BiOCl-T, prepared via a simple room-temperature liquid-phase co-deposition, is introduced to alleviate volume variations and accelerate stable charge transport to boost Li⁺ storage performance. The compact laminated structure of BiOCl-T forms through the selective adsorption of hydrophilic sulfonic acid groups in sodium dodecyl sulfate molecules. This structure facilitates rapid ion diffusion and improves electrolyte infiltration. Furthermore, the compact tablet-like architecture efficiently accommodates the volume expansion of Bi nanoparticles during cycling, removing the necessity for additional stress-relief strategies. BiOCl-T, as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, achieves a significantly higher Initial Coulombic Efficiency (73.6%) than conventional flower-like and debris-like morphologies. It also demonstrates remarkable long-term cycling stability, maintaining an average capacity retention of 95% after 300 cycles at 0.2 A g⁻¹. Synchronously, BiOCl-T shows exceptional adaptability under high-current conditions, delivering reversible capacities 6.1 and 4.7 times greater than those of flower-like BiOCl-F and debris-like BiOCl-D electrodes, after 1,000 cycles at 0.5 A g⁻¹. This study provides new insights into the design of high-performance, durable bismuth-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.