Nanosized Zinc Sulfide/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Synthesized from Natural Bulk Sphalerite as Good Performance Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Although transition-metal sulfides have emerged recently as a type of promising candidate to serve as lithium-ion battery anodes, the chemical synthesis of transition metal-sulfide materials usually involves a complex operation process and is time-consuming. The natural transition metal-sulfide minerals are potential materials for lithium-ion battery electrodes because of their abundant reserves and cost savings of the synthesis process. The synthesis of nanosized transition metal-sulfide-based materials from natural bulk minerals remains challenging. In our work, we demonstrate that a composite of ~ 10–50-nm ZnS nanoparticles that are anchored on reduced graphene-oxide nanosheets can be synthesized by using bulk natural sphalerite in a simple, rapid and pollution-free microwave shock method. As anode electrode, this composite exhibited a high reversible specific capacity (~ 611 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C), good rate performance and good cycling stability. This work provides a route for the high-value utilization of natural minerals.